EU Recommends Expanded Smoking Bans (Update)

The European Commission, part of the European Union, has unveiled an updated recommendation for smoking bans in its member countries.

Update (Dec. 3, 2024) — Health ministers from 27 EU countries voted today to approve the measure. All voted in favor except Germany and Greece, which both abstained. The measure remains a recommendation.

There are two important things to understand about what was unveiled on Tuesday. First, these are recommendations, meaning that this is not a proposed law. Technically, this is a proposal to update the existing recommendation. While the approval of these measures does not introduce—or even require member states to pass new laws—many of the EU member states will seriously consider the recommendation and use what has been recommended as a reason to introduce stricter laws.

The updated recommendation is an expanded version of its 2009 smoking ban language. The 2024 recommendation largely does two things: updates the language to include e-cigarettes and goes after outdoor smoking areas.

Formally, there are 14 bullet points. Given that the 2009 recommendation already called for bans on most indoor smoking, the new language goes after areas that weren’t covered. Specifically, outdoor areas—especially ones where children might be present, like amusement parks and playgrounds—as well as the outdoor and semi-covered areas of busy places like train stations or areas outside of shopping malls. The language also calls for existing and new bans to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products where traditional smoking is banned.

In addition, the language asks members to consider banning the use of those products in cars when minors are present.

The Commission said that it considered the potential negative financial impacts of reducing tobacco and nicotine use but found that it is outweighed by the public health benefits.

“You don’t consume cigars for a quick fix: cigars are niche and culturally significant enjoyment products that can require up to an hour’s worth of smoking time,” said the European Cigar Manufacturers Association in a statement. “Dedicated smoking places for these legal products predominantly consumed on an occasional basis by adult connoisseurs are thus necessary… We urge regulators not to lump in cigars with other tobacco and nicotine products that pose higher youth and daily usage concerns.”

Update (Sept. 20, 2024) — Added statement from the ECMA.

Update (Dec. 3, 2024) — The measure was approved. This story was originally published on Sept. 18, 2024.