American customs and pop culture have invaded a lot of countries, and Spain is one of them. For example, the practice of exchanging Christmas gifts used to occur on Epiphany, January 6th, but now kids expect them on Christmas Day. McDonald's and Burger King fast food joints can be found in every major Spanish city. And American popular music, as well as Spanish imitations of it, are played on most radio stations. (You ain't heard nuthin' until you've heard Spanish Rap "music.")

There's one area, though, where Spain has not completely followed the USA's lead - smoking bans. Smoking prohibitions do exist here, and they're about to become stricter. But the subject is handled with a lot more civility here, without the theatrics and hysteria that have led to some American anti-smoking advocates being called Nicotine Nazis (or the Tobacco Taliban).

What follows is a description of Spain's approach to the subject plus a little historical trivia:

Spain's Approach
Spain's government is expected to pass new ant-smoking laws sometime this year. Right now, smoking is prohibited in most public buildings, including most bars and restaurants. Bars over 100 sq. meters (1,076 sq. ft.) can designate smoking areas, but they have to be physically separated and may occupy at most 30% of the total floor space of the establishments. But small bars and restaurants - those smaller than 100 sq. meters - can decide for themselves whether their customers can smoke. Most have opted to allow it.

When the new law does go into effect, smoking will be banned in all indoor public places, including bars, night clubs and restaurants. As you might expect, business owners are worried about the effect it will have on their bottom line. Obviously, nobody knows for sure. Only time will tell.

Until recently, cigarette packs had to carry slogans such as "Smoking Can Kill" and the like. The existing law was changed recently to require that they display graphic images designed to discourage smoking. (See pictures to the right.)

No reliable statistics have been published about how the Spanish public feels about the tobacco prohibitions. Most may favor them, but Spaniards are a lot more civil and tolerant than, say, Americans. For instance, you don't see Spanish non-smokers falling to the ground, coughing and choking, at the mere sight of a photograph of someone smoking.

Current and proposed tobacco laws have gotten a lot of coverage in Spanish newspapers. What has not been covered is the government's plan to make up for the billions in revenue it will lose if folks give up their nasty habit. Tobacco is highly regulated in Spain and the government determines who can sell it, where they can sell it and what prices can be charged. And the prices (around US$4.00/pack) are mostly tax.

The Original Nicotine Nazis
The first modern, nationwide tobacco ban was imposed by the Nazi Party in every German university, post office, military hospital, and Nazi Party office, under orders from Adolf Hitler. To curb the use of tobacco the Nazi government implemented a variety of measures. An extensive advertising campaign included ads in newspapers, magazines, posters in the streets, and educational films.

Laws were past to ban smoking in certain areas. Hospitals, schools, government offices, bomb shelters, and streetcars were all off-limits to smoking. In 1941, the government tax on tobacco products was almost 90% of the retail price.

Early Anti-smoking Campaigns in the USofA
In the latter part of the 20th century, the tobacco industry launched "courtesy awareness" campaigns. Fearing reduced sales, the industry created a media and legislative program that focused on "accommodation." Tolerance and courtesy were encouraged as a way to ease heightened tensions between smokers and those around them, while avoiding smoking bans. In the USA, states were encouraged to pass laws providing separate smoking sections.

In 1975, Minnesota enacted the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, making it the first state to ban smoking in most public spaces. At first, restaurants were required to have No Smoking sections, and bars were exempt from the Act. (The exemptions were repealed in 2007.)

In 1990, the city of San Luis Obispo, California, became the first city in the world to ban indoor smoking at all public places, including bars and restaurants.