Tough new anti tobacco law to be approved

Under the “draft bill on drug dependency and other addictions in the Balearics” the following places will be considered “smoke-free zones”: public offices, health and social services centres, schools, youth and leisure clubs.

It also covers shopping centres, bank offices and enclosed work spaces, except in reserved areas which are not used for sales or for dealing with the public.

The law will come into force two months after its approval by Parliament, after which time any outdoor advertisements for tobacco must not be visible from schools and must be at least 100 metres from the school gates.

No advertising slogans will be allowed which associate tobacco with a better physical or mental performance, social success or therapeutic effects. Giving a negative image of abstinence will also be banned.

The bill also covers drugs such as psychotropics, pathological gambling and addictive disorders but does not include alcohol which will be covered by a specific bill.

According to the health ministry, alcohol should not have the same treatment as drugs from the legal point of view.
Although it recognises the risks of excessive drinking, the ministry believes that it should have a different treatment to other drugs and to this purpose, another law which should be approved later this year, will be drawn up.

It will determine what advertising will be allowed among other matters.
The opposition is not in agreement with this and is likely to bring it out during the Parliamentary debate on Tuesday.
The last law on drugs, approved by the previous left wing coalition government, did include alcohol but was not approved by Parliament as the legislature ended.

All places open to the public will be obliged to open areas for non-smokers.
The way the law is applied will vary when the State law is approved.
This law is now being drawn up and it will be even more restrictive.
Fines for breaking the Balearic law will be divided into three categories and the amount varies accordingly.
For the least serious offences, the maximum fine will be 6'000 euros.
This will rise to 6'000 to 60'000 euros for serious offences, and from 60'000 to one million euros for very serious offences.
As to gambling, the law says that under-18s cannot enter gaming rooms, casinos or bingo parlours, nor place bets or use slot machines with programmed prizes.

It also bans people who show signs of drunkenness or being under the influence of drugs or have other symptoms showing that their capacities have been affected.

Glues and other chemical products which could have adverse effects on the health and create dependency cannot be sold to under 18s under the new law.