The Portuguese government plans to drastically tighten the country’s anti-smoking legislation. Authorities have announced plans to expand smoke-free areas to outdoor spaces, including covered terraces, by 2040, and to limit the sale of tobacco by location.
According to Reuters and others on the 11th (local time), the Portuguese authorities recently announced this policy to reduce the smoking rate of future generations.
Portugal’s health minister dismissed criticism from some in a press conference, saying the amendment was intended to protect future generations.
If the bill proposed on this day is approved by the National Assembly, it will take effect on October 23, and accordingly, it will be enforced in schools, hospitals, sports stadiums, public buildings and outside restaurants, bars and coffee shops, making it virtually impossible to smoke in outside facilities. expected to be
Restaurants, bars and nightclubs with separate smoking areas will be able to maintain them by 2030.
From 2025, only licensed tobacco vendors and airport shops will be able to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products, and vending machines, bars, restaurants and gas stations will no longer be able to sell cigarettes.
In addition, Portugal is also planning to amend the law to treat heated tobacco products the same as regular cigarettes in accordance with EU policy.
While some criticize that the source of income for related companies is disappearing, the gas station industry is also complaining that the revision direction is ‘unfair and unbalanced’.
A pack of cigarettes in Portugal costs about 5 euros (about 7,300 won), which is one of the cheapest among Western European countries.
There is also an argument that the government should raise the tobacco tax, but health authorities are expressing their opposition. According to actual statistics, smokers live about 10 years shorter than non-smokers.
Meanwhile, in Portugal, which has a population of about 10 million, about 13,500 people died from smoking in 2019.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.