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non-USA, by Country
· Spain
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Jump to full article: Examiner.com (National), 2009-11-09
Author: Madrid Travel Examiner Arielle Weisman
Intro: There are many wonderful things about Spain, but smoking is not one of them. It would seem that just about every Spaniard smokes, either on a regular basis or socially, and it is not possible to go out at night without coming home reeking of cigarettes, so much so it often takes two showers to get the stench out of your hair. It's fine if you, too, are a smoker, but what if you value the quality of the air that you let into your lungs? . . .
Spain has significantly improved their smoking habits since the passing of a law on January 1, 2006 . . .
But all this is about to change. On January 1, 2010, Spain will finally join its fellow tobacco-loving neighbors, France and Italy, in a ban on smoking in all public buildings. While it has already been forbidden to smoke in airports, hospitals, schools, and public transportation for some time now, come New Years Day, it will also no longer be legal to hold a caña (mini beer) in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Well, at least not indoors...
This may not seem like such a momentous event to an American, as many states in the U.S. have been smoke free for more than a decade, but this new law is about to revolutionize Spanish culture. . . .
What is certain, though, is that the air will be safer for everyone, especially for all non-smokers who have been forced to inhale so much second hand smoke just to hang out with their friends!
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