European Commission to Propose Stricter Smoking Bans in Outdoor Areas

The European Commission is poised to advocate for more comprehensive smoking bans across outdoor areas, including venues such as cafe terraces, bus stops, and zoos. This initiative marks an extension of current prohibitions, now encompassing nicotine-free products as well, according to a document leaked to Euronews.

Tomorrow, on September 17, the Commission is expected to reveal its recommendation to expand existing smoking bans to outdoor areas. These proposals are designed to address not only traditional cigarettes but also innovative nicotine-free products, reflecting mounting worries over health risks associated with new tobacco alternatives, like vapes. The proposed guidelines are not legally binding but aim to set a framework for European Union member states to decrease tobacco-related cancer risks.

The draft document, which is still under consideration, highlights the intention to eliminate all types of aerosols from public spaces, rather than limiting restrictions to cigarette smoke. This shift aims to counteract potential health threats posed by new tobacco products. During the initial implementation phase from 2009 to 2012, there was a noted reduction in exposure to second-hand smoke following similar measures.

The Commission’s updated recommendations seek to regulate a wider array of new products, including “heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, whether containing nicotine or not,” according to the leaked document. The report clarifies that even those products touted as less harmful than traditional smoking expose bystanders to toxic substances through second-hand aerosols. Furthermore, the usefulness of such products as aids for quitting smoking remains debatable.

The proposal includes the extension of smoking bans to various outdoor settings, which have typically been regulated individually by member states. The Commission underscored that the coverage of smoke-free environments varies significantly and that protections for outdoor areas in current policies are inadequate.

Under the new guidelines, semi-outdoor areas such as rooftops and balconies related to service businesses like restaurants and cafes would be declared smoke-free zones. Public transport facilities, including bus stops and airports, would fall under these bans, as well as outdoor areas related to workplaces, hospitals, and nursing homes. Areas frequented by children, like playgrounds and zoos, and educational settings are also set to be included.

The proposal was initially slated for January, but its delay has raised doubts about the EU’s dedication to its anti-tobacco initiatives. Linked reforms to the EU’s Tobacco Taxation Directive have been postponed to 2025, with some suggesting possible influence by the tobacco industry. In a December 2023 report, the EU Ombudsman criticized the Commission for lack of transparency regarding meetings with tobacco industry lobbyists.

Despite these challenges, the outgoing Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, is expected to press on with updates to the Council recommendations, just weeks before the Commission’s term ends. On World No Tobacco Day, Kyriakides emphasized the necessity to eliminate tobacco use and nicotine addiction from Europe’s future.

The updated guidelines are part of the larger Beating Cancer Plan, which aims to establish a “tobacco-free generation” by 2040, reduce tobacco use by 30% by 2025, and decrease the percentage of the EU’s smoking population to just 5%.