In the Italian city of Milan, smokers face the risk of being fined for smoking on city streets or in crowded public areas, following the implementation of the country’s strictest ban to date.
Individuals who ignore this new ban in the northern Italian city could incur fines ranging from €40 to €240, a measure that has drawn criticism from some members of the community.
“In my view, the new law is excessive. I understand prohibiting smoking indoors and in close proximity to children or elderly individuals, but an outdoor smoking ban somewhat infringes on personal freedom,” stated one local resident.
The air quality ordinance in Milan, enacted by the city council in 2020, has led to progressively stricter restrictions on smoking.
The new directive, effective immediately, states that the smoking ban applies to “all public spaces, including streets,” with the exception of “isolated areas where individuals can maintain a distance of at least ten meters from others.”
This ban does not include e-cigarettes.
Local authorities indicated that the initiative aims to reduce airborne particulates to “enhance the quality of the city’s air and safeguard citizens’ health, including protection against secondhand smoke in public spaces, especially those frequented by children,” as stated in an official announcement.
Stellina Lombardo, 56, a non-smoker, expressed her support for the stricter smoking regulations.
“I am in full agreement because smoking contributes significantly to pollution. In this era of climate change, such actions can help mitigate the devastating effects of pollution on our planet,” she remarked.
The ban, which precedes the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, does not extend to e-cigarettes.
Milan, located in the industrial heart of the Po Valley and burdened by heavy traffic, is noted as one of the most polluted cities in Europe regarding air quality.
Italy’s inaugural national smoking ban enacted in 1975 prohibited smoking on public transport, in classrooms, and several other designated areas.
This ban was expanded in 1995 to include public administration spaces and in 2005 to all enclosed public areas, positioning Italy as a pioneer in Europe at that time.
Approximately 19% of Italians smoke, according to 2023 data from the National Institute of Statistics, which is less than the 24% average across the European Union.
Cigarettes in Italy cost around €6 per pack, making them among the most affordable in Europe, where prices of approximately €10 are more typical. In Ireland, a pack of 20 cigarettes is priced around €18.
Ireland has implemented some of the strictest smoke-free laws in the EU.
The Italian Ministry of Health reports that smoking is responsible for approximately 93,000 deaths annually.
Furthermore, smoking accounts for nearly 85% of all lung cancer cases, the deadliest cancer globally, according to the World Health Organization.
Within the European Union, 17 countries have adopted smoke-free legislation, with Ireland, Greece, Bulgaria, Malta, Spain, and Hungary enforcing the strictest regulations.
In November, a proposal in Britain to phase out smoking among young people successfully passed its initial parliamentary vote, receiving strong support from lawmakers.
This legislation would prohibit anyone born after January 1, 2009, from legally purchasing tobacco, gradually increasing the legal age for tobacco sales.
The UK government has announced that this initiative aims to create the nation’s first “smoke-free generation.”
In comparison, Sweden boasts the lowest smoking rates in Europe, with only 8% of the population smoking, while Bulgaria has a rate of 37%.
Additionally, Belgium has banned the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes starting today for health and environmental reasons.
