In Russia, smoking or vaping at home, including on a private balcony, can now result in a fine of up to 1,500 rubles if it disturbs neighbors. Lawyers are reminding citizens that while the act isn’t explicitly banned in one’s own residence, the law protects a neighbor’s right to a clean and safe living environment.
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The era of smoking and vaping on Spanish beaches is drawing to a close, with nearly 800 coastal areas already designated as smoke-free zones. Now, the Spanish Society of Epidemiology is urging the Ministry of Health to go further and implement a nationwide ban covering the entire Spanish coastline without exception.
Read moreFrance has implemented a new decree that bans traditional cigarette smoking in many outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, and bus stops, effective this past Sunday. The move, part of the new National Tobacco Control Plan, aims to reduce the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke and “de-normalize” a habit that claims nearly 75,000 lives in France each year. However, a major exception persists: electronic cigarettes (vapes) are, for now, largely unaffected by these new outdoor restrictions. This guide explores why vaping has been treated differently and details eight types of public places where vaping is still tolerated, at least for the time being.
Read moreIndonesia is grappling with a severe public health crisis as the number of active smokers reaches 70 million, with an alarming 7.4% of teenagers aged 10-18 now using tobacco. The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has warned that without decisive action, overall smoking prevalence could hit 37.5% by 2025. This concerning trend is exacerbated by a tenfold increase in e-cigarette (vape) use by 2023 and a dramatic surge in child smokers, some initiating the habit as young as four years old.
Read moreRussia is considering a proposal to increase fines for smoking in the common areas of apartment buildings by up to 30 times the current penalties. Federation Council member Oleg Golov initiated the suggestion, arguing that the current administrative fines, ranging from 500 to 1,500 rubles, are too insignificant to deter the practice.
Read moreThe state of Lower Saxony in Germany has expanded its existing smoking ban in public places to include e-cigarettes (vapes) and the vaporization of cannabis. The state parliament approved the legislative amendment, proposed by the ruling SPD and Green parties, with support from the CDU. The AfD party abstained from the vote.
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.
Read moreCity Council Unanimously Votes to Expand Restrictions; Fines and Misdemeanor Charges Possible
Beachgoers in Jacksonville, Florida, will no longer be able to smoke or vape on the sand. The City Council voted unanimously on Monday, May 5, to ban all forms of smoking, explicitly including electronic cigarettes and vaping products, on its beaches. The ban took effect immediately.
Read moreHong Kong is set to tighten its tobacco control laws with a new amendment bill introduced on April 25, 2025. Key proposals target travelers bringing cigarettes and expand public no-smoking areas.
Read moreA new report warns that Labour leader Keir Starmer’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill could result in the closure of approximately 7,700 corner shops and off licences, impacting 70,000 jobs across the UK.
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