Smoking law broken on most enclosed terraces

ALMOST all Spanish bars with enclosed terraces break anti-smoking laws, the OCU consumers’ association has reported.
Although the law states that smoking is not permitted on terraces with a roof and more than two sides, the organisation informed that 87 per cent allow smoking on the terraces and named Madrid and Bilbao as the two cities with the most offenders.
The OCU report also revealed that the law, which was modified in January 2011, is broken in areas surrounding most schools and hospitals as smoking is also forbidden in or near these centres.
To carry out the investigation, the results of which were published in OCU Health magazine, more than 400 places were investigated including 190 cafeterias, 33 shopping centres, 42 university faculties, 27 bus and train stations, 41 secondary schools and 27 hospitals.
Although smokers should know the rules, the report revealed a lack of signs to state the bans to remind people to follow the law. No signs were in place on 98 per cent of enclosed terraces or 52 per cent of secondary schools. Hospitals on the other hand were found to be good in this respect, with just four per cent lacking signs.
The OCU summed up stating that although the law is generally met indoors it is broken frequently in open-air areas where smoking is banned, and said it would contact the Ministry of Health to request more inspections, especially at hospitals and schools.

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