HOSTELRY INDUSTRY TO STAGE MASSIVE ANTI-SMOKING LAW PROTEST IN PALMA

THE Balearic hostelry sector is going to be staging a massive rally in the centre of Palma on Monday in protest against Spain's tough anti-smoking laws.

The new law introduced is one of Europe's toughest smoking bans that even prohibits lighting up in open spaces like children's playgrounds and outside hospitals.

Fines for breaking the ban, which took effect at midnight on January 2, range from a modest 30 euros (£25) to 600'000 euros (£513'800).
Aside from playgrounds and access points to schools and hospitals, smoking is also banned in bars, restaurants, discotheques, casinos and airports.
But hotels are allowed to reserve 30% of their rooms for smokers.
Spain's Health Minister Leire Pajin previously said: “We should remember that more than 70% of Spain's population are non-smokers. “So it is logical to think they will be more comfortable in bars when there is no tobacco smoke in them.” But, that is not how the hostelry sector, in particular the bars and restaurants see it. Pilar Carbonell, President of the Balearic Confederation of Business Association's Restaurant Association, said yesterday that since the new restrictions were introduced, bars and restaurants have seen their trade and takings fall by between 15 and 40 percent while others have simply been forced out of business.

The protest is going to begin at 6pm in the Plaza Mayor and work its way down to the central government delegation just off the Borne where the hostelry sector's demands and criticism of the new law will be read out.

HYPOCRISY “What is more, this law makes no sense because, while smoking has been banned in many places, the number of outlets permitted to sell tobacco has been increased, so who are the government trying to kid?” Carbonell said. “It's pure hypocrisy because it seems the government is hoping that the ban will not stop too many Spaniards from smoking,” she added.
Earlier this year, among a battery of austerity measures, the government announced a rise in tobacco tax which it hopes will bring in an extra 780 million euros a year (£668million). “As far as the Balearics is concerned, we're in the business of tourism and making sure visitors to the region are comfortable and happy,” she added.
The President of the small business association, Juan Cabrera, said that it should be up to the bar or restaurant owner to decide whether clients can smoke or not inside his premises.

He too also suggested that the strict laws could further reduce takings from tourists who will be forced to smoke outside bars restaurants and clubs.
In fact, the anti-smoking law has caused a series of social problems in a number of Palma neighbourhoods where residents are being kept awake until the early hours of the morning by revelers forced outside of the bars to smoke. Not to mention the mounds of cigarette butts left behind and outside hospitals where no industrial ash trays have been placed.

The Spanish Federation of Hostelry estimates the ban could lead to the loss of up to 350'000 jobs, as many Spaniards will stay at home rather than go without a cigarette at bars and Monday's protest march will involve a wide cross section of associations involved in the tourist industry.