Tag Archive for: smoke in public

Illinois: Metropolis Bans Smoking & Vaping in City Parks

New Ordinance Cites Environmental Concerns and Fire Risks; Fines Up to $100

The Metropolis City Council has officially approved an ordinance banning smoking and vaping in all city parks and recreation areas. The decision, finalized during the council’s meeting on Monday, November 24, takes immediate effect. The council cited significant environmental concerns, including litter from cigarette butts and vaping materials, as well as increased fire risks, as the primary motivations for the ban.

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Dallas Bans Vaping in Public Spaces on Dec.11, with $500 Fine

Starting December 11, the city of Dallas has significantly expanded its smoking restrictions to include electronic smoking devices, effectively banning vaping in nearly all public indoor and enclosed spaces, as well as on all park property. The Dallas City Council approved this amendment to the city code in December 2024, following proposals from the city’s Environmental Commission and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability.

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Florida Bill Proposes Statewide Public Smoking & Vaping Ban

A new bill in Florida, House Bill 389, could significantly expand restrictions on where people can smoke and vape across the state. The proposed legislation aims to create a uniform, statewide ban on smoking and vaping tobacco or marijuana in numerous public areas, potentially overriding existing local rules.

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Russia: Smoking on Shared Balconies Carries Fines up to 1,500 Rubles

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Smoking on common or shared balconies in multi-apartment buildings is illegal in Russia and is subject to fines ranging from 500 to 1,500 rubles, a senior Russian lawmaker has clarified. Sergey Kolunov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Construction and Housing, told RIA Novosti that many residents are unaware of this prohibition.

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Europe to Ban Smoking & Vaping on Terraces from 2027

A sweeping new restriction is set to be introduced across various major European cities, completely prohibiting smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes on the open terraces of cafes, bars, and restaurants starting January 1, 2027. This initiative, part of a broader package of measures developed from European Commission recommendations, aims to create more smoke-free public environments.

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Belgium to Ban Smoking & Vaping on Terraces from 2027

Belgium is set to ban smoking and vaping on the outdoor terraces of cafés and restaurants starting January 1, 2027. The decision, approved by the Council of Ministers, is part of a broader anti-tobacco strategy championed by Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. The new rules will also eliminate designated smoking areas in airports, restaurants, and cigar or shisha bars.

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Hong Kong Passes New Tobacco Law, Bans Flavored Cigarettes & Public Vaping

Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has passed a comprehensive new tobacco control bill with an overwhelming majority vote (74 to one, with seven abstentions). The Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2025 introduces a series of stringent measures aimed at further reducing the city’s smoking rate, which stood at 9.1% in 2023.

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Kenya Considers Full Ban on Public Smoking Zones

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Kenyan health officials are considering a complete ban on all designated public smoking zones as concerns grow over rising secondhand smoke exposure in residential areas and informal settlements, particularly in Nairobi. Despite Kenya’s comprehensive Tobacco Control Act (2007), which outlaws smoking in most public and indoor settings, enforcement has been weak, leading to a resurgence of public smoking in areas like bus stops, markets, and residential courtyards.

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Spain to Ban Smoking & Vaping Ban to Terraces, Pools, and Bus Stops

The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved a draft for a new anti-tobacco law that proposes a significant expansion of smoke-free zones, notably banning smoking and vaping on the outdoor terraces of bars and restaurants. The proposed legislation aims to legally equate electronic cigarettes (vapes) with conventional tobacco, applying the same restrictions to both, and introduces a ban on single-use disposable e-cigarettes.

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Argentina: Mendoza Bill Seeks to Ban Vaping in Public Spaces

A new bill has been introduced in the provincial legislature of Mendoza, Argentina, that aims to prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) in all enclosed public and collective spaces. The initiative, presented by Senator Sergio Márquez, seeks to close a significant legal loophole that currently allows vaping in places like offices, schools, and restaurants, where traditional smoking is already banned.

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