Plan to ban smoking in all indoor public places

PALMA
THE Spanish government intends to send a law to Congress to ban smoking in closed public places in June, the Spanish health minister, Trinidad Jimenez, said in a television interview yesterday. “The law will be sent to Congress, there could be a debate and then a period of adaptation for the law,” a Health Ministry spokeswoman said.
Last year, Jimenez said Spain was “mature enough” for a full smoking ban. In 2006, Spain introduced a smoking ban in workplaces and public places larger than 100 square meters. However, a smoke-free bar or restaurant, for example, in Spain is rare.

Many of the country's bars and restaurants are smaller than 100 square meters and in larger establishments, few owners enforce the law or have installed nonsmoking sections.

BIG SELLERS
In Spain, Imperial Tobacco Group PLC's Fortuna and Ducados brands are popular, while Phillip Morris International Inc.'s Marlboro and L&M brands are also big sellers.

Both companies are Spain's biggest players in the tobacco market and are likely to be the most affected by any drop in consumption.