As of January 2, 2011, it became against the law to smoke in bars and restaurants in Spain. The law also prohibited lighting up in enclosed public places, although hotels are allowed to reserve 30 percent of their rooms for smokers.
Outside smoking is banned in open-air children’s playgrounds – even those inside parks – and at access points to schools and hospitals.
In 2006 the Spanish government passed anti-smoking regulations prohibiting smoking inside office buildings but giving bars and restaurants a pass. Only large eating establishments had to provide non-smoking areas. Since the majority of bars and restaurants in Spain are small, compliance with the 2006 anti-smoking regulations was lax. But nowadays all eateries, regardless of size, have banned smoking.
The law stipulates that a minor infringement should be penalised with fines from 30 to 600€, while very serious breaches will attract fines from €10,000 to 600,000€!
The Spanish smoking laws are being regarded as the toughest in Europe. There is also a total ban on the promotion of smoking on TV . There is no talking about it or the displaying of cigarettes in any way. The no smoking ban does not apply to private smoking clubs though.