The Spanish government is preparing to expand its list of public places where smoking traditional cigarettes and using vapes (e-cigarettes) will be prohibited, El Pais reports. This move aims to ensure healthier and more comfortable spaces for the entire population, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
Read moreNorth Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco and vape products from 18 to 21, aiming to align state law with existing federal regulations. A legislative meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the proposal, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Donnie Loftis (R-Gaston) and Rep. Gale Adcock (D-Wake).
Read moreFrance to ban smoking on beaches, in parks & near schools from July 1 with €135 fine; cafe terraces & vapes currently exempt.
Read moreThe Chechen Republic has the lowest prevalence of smoking in Russia at just 0.2%, followed by Ingushetia (6.17%) and Kabardino-Balkaria (10.31%), according to March 2025 data from the Central Research Institute for Organization and Informatization of Health (CRIOI) of the Russian Ministry of Health. Other regions with low smoking rates include Karachay-Cherkessia (11.18%) and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (11.58%).
Read moreFrance is set to implement a significant expansion of its smoking ban, prohibiting smoking in most outdoor public places starting July 1, 2025. The new law aims to protect the public, particularly children, from secondhand smoke and further denormalize tobacco use.
Read moreFrench daily smoking rates hit lowest since 1990 (23.1% in 2023), while daily vaping climbs to 6.1%, new OFDT study reveals.
Read morePalm Coast City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting smoking and vaping in all city-owned public parks and trails. The measure, which passed 4-0 at its first reading on May 20th, aligns with the Florida Clean Air Act, a state law enacted in June 2024 that empowers municipalities to regulate smoking in public spaces.
Read moreYour guide to UK rules for smoking & vaping in pub gardens, festivals (Glastonbury, Creamfields), pavement cafes & racecourses this summer.
Read moreDiscover the 6 largest nicotine and tobacco companies in the U.S. (PMI, Altria, RAI, ITG, Liggett, Swedish Match/ZYN) and their shift to smokeless products.
Read moreSmoking on shared apartment building balconies in Russia can result in fines ranging from 500 to 1,500 rubles, according to Sergey Kolunov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Construction, Housing and Communal Services. He emphasized that the ban on smoking in common areas of residential buildings, such as elevators and stairwells, also extends to these shared balconies.
Common Area Smoking Ban Includes Balconies, Hookahs
Kolunov noted that residents might mistakenly believe shared balconies are separate from common подъезд (entrance hall/stairwell) areas, but this is incorrect. The restrictions apply equally to smoking hookahs in these locations. Furthermore, if smoke from an individual’s private apartment balcony causes discomfort to neighbors, they are entitled to contact the police. This advice aligns with legal expert Alexander Karabanov, who previously suggested calling the police for neighbors smoking on balconies, citing both discomfort and fire safety concerns. The Russian government is also reportedly evaluating a bill to increase fines for smoking near schools.
- News source: Россиянам рассказали о штрафах за курение на балконе