Spain would support extending smoking bans as well as raising tobacco taxes

A SURVEY shows that there is overwhelming support for the extension of smoking bans in public areas, along with an increase in tobacco taxes.

The study was done for the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC), which includes family doctors.

According to the Ministry of Health, around 50,000 people in Spain die every year due to smoking tobacco.

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In addition to lung cancer, smoking is linked with 35 diseases including COPD, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

74% said that smoking and vaping should be banned on hospitality terraces, public transport shelters/stops.

This figure increases to 85% when it comes to the school entrances and surrounding areas.

The semFYC annual smoking survey was published Monday, coinciding with Smoke-Free Week. It surveyed 9.500 respondents.

The survey shows that people want more restrictions on smoking, compared to the previous year.

65% of respondents support a smoking ban in parks and 63% on beaches. Perhaps more surprising, 53% are in favor of a smoking ban in private vehicles.

The popularity of e-cigarettes has created a generational divide, with teens supporting new smoke free areas at a lower rate between 20-30%.

Doctors are concerned by findings in relation adolescents. Boys between 14 and 18 years old vape nine-times more than the general population – despite the sales ban.

10% use vapes – that’s a 70% jump compared to the year before.

Doctors claim that vaping is a gateway to smoking among youth, as 93% of them combine the two habits. However, in adolescence more people vape rather than smoke.

Vape products are no longer allowed to be purchased after the age of 18.

A second conclusion from the survey is that a majority of respondents support higher taxes on tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to reduce consumption.

74.6% surveyed people supported a price increase that experts say could reduce smoking rates by as much 15%.