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MADRID - Spanish smokers are still puffing away furiously in the nation's bars and restaurants despite a law designed to create smoke-free spaces, a study showed on Tuesday.
A minimal 10 per cent of small bars and 15 per cent of small restaurants opted to ban smokers from their premises under the law which came into effect last year, according to the study by Spain's Consumers' Organisation.
In larger premises, which are obliged to limit smokers to 30 per cent of available space, the rule is being flouted in 85 per cent of cases, the study showed, pointing out that smoking is even permitted in hospital cafeterias.
A smoking ban for public places has been introduced in several countries successfully in recent years. Britain is due to introduce a full ban for public places in July.
- REUTERS
