Bid to ban smoking OUTSIDE pubs and restaurants as well as in cars and at sports grounds is launched by health officials in Catalonia

  • Bars and restaurants in Catalonia could soon be banned from allowing smoking
  • Smokers not allowed to light up outside crowded establishments if law is passed
  • Smoking at open-air sports facilities, inside cars and bus stops could be banned

Smoking will be banned on the outside terraces of bars and restaurants in the streets of Catalonia, if the region's health authority plans to bolster its laws pass. 

The ban could be in place before the end of the year as part of efforts to end smoking in crowded areas in the region which boasts Barcelona as its capital. 

Open-air sports facilities, cars and bus stops will also be affected if the authority decides to add to the January 2011 law that banned smoking inside bars and restaurants, the Guardian has reported.

While smokers are currently allowed to light up outside a bar or restaurant if proposals put forward by Catalonia's health authority are accepted this will stop (file image)

While smokers are currently allowed to light up outside a bar or restaurant if proposals put forward by Catalonia's health authority are accepted this will stop (file image)

The ban could be in place before the end of the year as part of efforts to end smoking in crowded areas in the region which boasts Barcelona as its capital (file image)

The ban could be in place before the end of the year as part of efforts to end smoking in crowded areas in the region which boasts Barcelona as its capital (file image)

It is thought some establishments may be flouting the law by allowing drinkers to smoke inside covered verandas, prompting talks of inspections to try to catch out law-breakers (file image)

It is thought some establishments may be flouting the law by allowing drinkers to smoke inside covered verandas, prompting talks of inspections to try to catch out law-breakers (file image)

Despite the ban on smoking inside bars, revellers are allowed to smoke on an open or partially covered terrace outside. 

But it is thought some establishments may be flouting this law by allowing drinkers to smoke inside covered verandas, prompting talks of inspections to try to catch out law-breakers. 

Nationwide the Spanish government are considering rising the price of tobacco to try to cut down the number of people choosing to smoke. 

Despite the ban on smoking inside bars, revellers are allowed to smoke on an open or partially covered terrace outside (file image)

Despite the ban on smoking inside bars, revellers are allowed to smoke on an open or partially covered terrace outside (file image)

A pack of cigarettes currently costs less than ‎€5 (£4.50) compared to £12 in the UK.

Smokers could also be banned from lighting up while inside a car with children.

The number of smokers in Spain is higher than most other European countries, at 22 per cent compared to an EU average of 18 per cent as well as the UK which is at 13 per cent, according to Eurostat.

The new laws could be similar to Quebec, Canada, where it is illegal to smoke within 30 feet of a building that is open to the public.