Choose a country

	Austria		Latvia
	Belgium		Lithuania
	Bulgaria		Luxembourg
	Cyprus		Malta
	Czech Republic		Netherlands
	Denmark		Poland
	Estonia		Portugal
	Finland		Romania
	France		Slovakia
	Germany		Slovenia
	Greece		Spain
	Hungary		Sweden
	Ireland		United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
	Italy

Austria

In 2005 smoking was banned in public buildings. Smoking areas in public buildings are allowed if the smoke does not enter the non-smoking zone. Also smoking was banned in educational institutions, public transport. Smoking in workplaces, where smokers and non-smokers are not separated, has been forbidden. In indoor workplaces other than bars and restaurants, smoking is banned if nonsmoking employees have to work with smoking employees in offices or office-like rooms. Areas for smoking are allowed if the smoke does not enter the nonsmoking area.
Austrian trains went smoke-free on 1 September 2007.
Austria introduced a partial smoking ban in bars and restaurants on January 1, 2009, which forces all establishments of 80 sqm or more to build separate smoking-rooms if they choose to serve smokers. Bigger establishments that do not wish to become entirely smoke-free will have to turn at least 50 % of their surface into protected no-smoking areas. Those that do plan a partition will have until 1 July, 2010 to do so and can continue to allow smoking until then.
Restaurants, bars or cafes smaller than 50 sqm will have to decide whether to go all non-smoking or remain cigarette-friendly. Cafes, clubs and restaurants will have to post large signs at the entrance -green for non-smoking and red for smoking - to indicate their preference.
For those restaurants, bars or cafes between 50 sqm and 80 sqm, owners will have to pick between the two options unless the authorities deem it possible to create a separate room.
In case of violations of the smoking ban, the law foresees fines for both restaurant owners and guests, ranging between 100 and 1,000 Euro for patrons and between 2,000 and 10,000 Euro for owners.

For more information click here or here.

*** Belgium

A Royal Decree of February 7, 1997 forbids smoking in places where food products are produced, stored or sold.
A Royal Decree dated May 15, 1990 with respect to a ban on smoking in certain public places forbid smoking in enclosed areas, accessible to the public, which are part of establishments or buildings where:

• services are rendered to the public, whether for payment or not, including places where foodstuffs and/or beverages are served;
• patients or elderly people are received or healed;
• preventive or therapeutic health care is provided;
• children and school age young people are received, housed or treated;
• education and/or professional training is provided;
• shows are produced;
• exhibitions are given;
• sports are played.

However, clearly delimited areas may be reserved for smokers and the surface area of these spaces which can be reserved for smokers must not exceed one half the total surface area of the enclosed space (starting with December 1992) .This provision doesn’t apply to enclosed areas, the principal activity of which is the serving of foodstuffs and/or beverages, and the surface area of which does not exceed 50 m2.
From 1st April 2005, Belgian businesses were given the right to require their employees to work longer if they stop for smoking breaks during the working day. Some companies already require smokers to work for 15 minutes longer at the end of the day to make up for lost time.
Since the 1 January 2006, Belgium has banned smoking in all enclosed workplaces. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas. However, employers are not obliged to create such areas. The smoking ban also applies in spaces used by self-employed persons working with employees, to which such employees have access.
Total smoking ban in trains and railway stations. Buses and trams are smoke-free.
From the 1st of January 2007 there is total ban on smoking in restaurants or drinking places where the serving of food is an important activity. They can have however a separate room equipped as smoking room which cannot be larger than a quarter of the total surface of the restaurant. For drinking houses, smoking is only allowed in the consumption room, when this one is larger than 50m2, at least half of the drinking houses should be smoke free and the discomfort for the non smokers should be reduced to a minimum. Penalties range from EUR 150 to EUR 1650
Smoking still allowed in bars <50m2.
The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products via automatic vending machines, with the exception of vending machines installed in premises where such tobacco products are sold in the traditional way.
Legal age to buy tobacco is 16.

For more information click here or here.

*** Bulgaria

In Bulgaria a partial smoking ban has been in force since 2005. Currently, the law says that smoking in public places is allowed only on the condition that there are specially designated non- and smoking sections, and a working ventilation system. Smoking locations must also be clearly signposted. Smoking is strictly forbidden at kindergardens, schools, universities, cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries, internet cafes, food shops, on public transport and in taxis. Fines range from 5 to 100 leva.
A total ban on trains was announced in March 2008 . All public transport drivers and taxi drivers are banned from smoking in the vehicles. The same restriction is valid for the passengers as well.
In November 2008 the Bulgarian government decided to introduce a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places including offices, bars, restaurants, and clubs.
The ban is due to come into effect on 1 June 2010.
Legal smoking age is 18.

For more information click here or here.

*** Cyprus

The Protection of Health (Smoking) Unified Laws (2002-2004) ban smoking on all public transport vehicles, including taxis, as well as private cars that carry passengers below 16 years old.
Smoking is banned in hospitals and healthcare establishments, schools, and in all public places, including theatres, cinemas, museums, libraries and food places.
Smoking is also prohibited in restaurants, taverns, cafes and coffee shops, but owners may provide ventilated, designated smoking areas. In establishments where more than one rooms are available, the owner can allow smokers to use one of them, provided it is well ventilated. Trespassers in all the above cases are penalized with a fine not exceeding CYP 1000 (approximately €1,710), or an imprisonment for 6 months or both.
In workplaces the right of the non-smoker to work in a smoke-free environment must be observed, and employers are required to put this in writing. With regard to smoking in places of work, the law provides that every employer, in consultation with his/her employees or their representatives draw up and post on walls regulations that provide that those who do not smoke are protected from the smoke of others, during their working time. Trespassers are penalized with a fine or jail or both.
It is an offence to supply tobacco to persons under 18 years of age.

For more information click here.

*** Czech Republic

Since January 1st, 2006, smoking is banned

• in public places (e. g. in closed spaces accessible to the public, means of public transport, spaces intended for purposes connected with public transport, bus, tram and railway stop shelters and waiting rooms, etc.)
• in schools
• in restaurants (if they do not have separated spaces reserved for smokers and marked with highly visible sign "Prostor vyhrazený pro kouření" ("Space reserved for smokers") and well arranged ventilation in closed entertainment facilities (i. e. theaters, galleries, concert halls, sport halls, etc.)
• inside medical facilities
• in buildings of public administration

The exception to this is in cases where there are special, “structurally separate sections reserved for smokers”. The Act also says that such areas should be clearly marked with “Prostor vyhrazený pro kouření - “Space Reserved for Smoking”). The law introduces financial penalties for operators breaching the law on smoking, for example a pub owner who allows smoking will be fined or banned from running the pub for two years. Smokers who do not observe these rules can be fined up to CZK 1,000.
In workplaces, smoking is banned, with the possibility of smoking rooms.
In April 2007, the Parliament passed an anti-smoking bill ought to limit smoking in restaurants and other public areas. Separate premises in restaurants, cafes and bars have to be reserved for smokers.
Smoking is absolutely forbidden in Czech trains since December 2007. The fine for smoking in trains are CZK 100. The ban applies also for the international trains, where smoking is still permitted. The passengers will be allowed to smoke only till they arrive to the Czech borders.
Cigarette sales from vending machines are banned and the shops allowed to sell cigarettes are restricted to mainly tobacco shops and supermarkets.
It is forbidden in the Czech Republic to sell tobacco products to people under 18 years of age.

For more information click here or here.

*** Denmark

Since 15 August 2007 the smoking is banned in all indoor public places, making it illegal to smoke in virtually all 'enclosed' and 'substantially enclosed' public places and workplaces. There are some exceptions:

1. Smoking will be permitted in rooms in which only one person is working at any one time and where others are not exposed to passive smoking. An example of such rooms would be a one-person office or a truck driver's cab.
2. Smoking will be permitted in designated areas (smoking cabins or rooms) which may not serve as a passageway or be used by staff in their daily work such as photocopying or storage rooms.

The law imposes an obligation on all employers to produce a written smoking policy and distribute it to all employees. The smoking policy must specify whether and, if so, where smoking is permitted and the consequences of non-compliance. The employer is responsible for enforcing the rules and any non-compliance will be punishable by a fine.
Whether smoking is allowed in hotel rooms used for sleeping depends on the hotel management.
Smoking is not allowed in taxis or in public means of transportation, on domestic flights, buses, S-trains, on board the trains going to Copenhagen Airport and on to Malmö, Sweden, and in many taxis. Smoking is still allowed in some areas of the intercity trains and the domestic ferries.
All restaurant, cafés and eating places are smoke-free, but owners may set up designated smoking rooms or smoking cabins, where there is no service. Employees or restaurants that violate the ban can be fined. First time offenders face a 2,000 kroner (€270) fine. The second time, the penalty is 5,000 kroner (€672;) and 10,000 kroner (€1,345) the third.
Smoking in bars and cafés with an alcohol license is allowed only if the area occupied by the premises is less than 40 square metres. Food as such must not be served, and tables and chairs must be available.
A new law takes effect on August 2008 making it illegal for young people under the age of 18 to purchase tobacco or to introduce tobacco to Denmark from abroad.

For more information click here or here.

*** Estonia

The Tobacco Act passed on May 4th, 2005, and which entered into force on June 5th, 2005, states that:

• Smoking is totally banned in education facilities, public transport shelters, waiting rooms and terminals.
• Smoking is banned in indoor offices and workplaces, theatres and cinemas, government and healthcare facilities, institutions of higher education, but special smoking areas or smoking rooms are permitted. The owner, landlord or employer of such premises is obliged to provide a designated separate room or area for smoking wherever necessary and feasible at their own expense: this separate room or area must be directly connected to the outside environment via an independent ventilation system.

The ban on smoking in bars, restaurants, cafés and nightclubs came into effect on 5 June 2007. In these facilities smoking is permitted only in separate, enclosed smoking rooms with separate ventilation systems, but the room arrangement is not obligatory . The smoking is banned in bus stops and underground stations, too.
Offenders face a fine of 80 €, while owners of cafes and restaurants can face a fine of up to 2,000 €.
The minimum age to purchase tobacco is set at 18.

For more information click here or here.

*** Finland

Smoking is totally prohibited:

1. in the indoor premises of day-care centres for children and of educational institutions intended for students, and in their outdoor areas primarily intended for persons under the age of eighteen
2. in the indoor premises of government agencies and authorities and comparable public bodies intended for the public and clients
3. at public events arranged indoors to which the public has unrestricted access;
4. inside public means of transport
5. in the common premises of workplaces and in their indoor premises intended for clients
6. in bars and in gambling premises of restaurants and corresponding establishments, unless the exposure of employees working there to tobacco smoke can be prevented otherwise.

In June 2007 smoking was prohibited in bars and restaurants. However, designated smoking booths are allowed but may be used for smoking only. There may be no serving in the booth, nor any eating, drinking or other incidental activities. The smoking booth is not part of the serving area. With the exception of maintenance of order, fire and rescue and attendance to safety, employees are prohibited from working in the smoking booth. The smoking booth can only be cleaned on the condition that it is empty and has been well aired and that the employees safety has been attended to.
Construction of smoking booths is subject to a permit and approval from the building permit authorities. Smoking booths shall meet the requirements laid out in the decrees of the Government and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health concerning structure, technical aspects and functionality. The smoking booth of a restaurant shall be at least 7 sq m in size and its structure and ventilation shall be such as to prevent tobacco smoke from spreading to the surrounding premises or elsewhere inside the same or another building. The booth shall be equipped with ventilation as provided for in the Smoking Booths Decree which permits tobacco smoke to be removed outside and the booth to have negative pressure. The booth shall be at negative pressure at all times. The shortest distance between the upper part of the door and the ceiling must be at least 400 mm. Access to the booth shall be organised in a manner that prevents tobacco smoke from spreading outside the booth. In addition, a plan for the use and maintenance of the smoking booth shall be prepared.A restaurant may also provide an opportunity for smoking out of doors, in which case it shall, under the Act, ensure that tobacco smoke does not pass back into the restaurant through an open window, door or other opening or via the ventilation system. Any smoking premises located out of doors are also subject to the consent of the property owner. A two-year transition period was set up to allow bars and restaurants >50m2 to install the smoking rooms. Restaurants of <50m2, which were not covered by previous legislation, will have to be completely smokefree. This will take effect in June 2009.
The minimum age to purchase tobacco is set at 18.

For more information click here or here.

*** France

Smokefree legislation came into effect in France on 1 February 2007. Workplaces, including offices, schools, stores and hospitals, went smokefree first, but bars, night clubs and restaurants were exempted until 1 January 2008.
Designated smoking rooms are allowed in cafes and restaurants, but are subjected to very strict conditions: they may occupy at most 20% of the total floor space of the establishment and their size may not be more than 35 m²; they need to be equipped with separate ventilation which replaces the full volume of air ten times per hour; the air pressure of the smoking room must constantly be lower than the pressure in the contiguous rooms; they must have doors that close automatically; no service can be provided in the smoking rooms; and cleaning and maintenance personnel may enter the room only one hour after it was last used for smoking.
Any smoker caught flouting the ban can be fined up to 450 euros, while those who turn a blind eye to smokers on their premises can be fined up to 750 euros.
Vending machines outside tobacco shops are forbidden.
The legal smoking age is 16.

For more information click here, here or here.

*** Germany

Each state in Germany can mandate the extent to which smoking is allowed in public places.
Since September 2007, smoking in is not permitted in all indoor facilities of health care, education, recreation or sports and in all forms of public transport.
In September 2007, The Deutsche Bahn (German Train Company) banned smoking on all trains in the country. This move followed the previous restrictions adopted in train stations around the country, which permitted smoking only in designated places inside the train stations or on train platforms.
In 2008, the German High Court has just overturned smoking bans in small bars and restaurants. The ruling means that German states must ban smoking in all pubs or restaurants or offer exceptions for single-room establishments. The German court further ordered German states to review their laws and to come up with new ones by the end of 2009.
Offenders could face fines of between €5 and €1,000.
The legal smoking age is 16.

Here is a state-by-state summary of the laws:

Baden-Württemberg
The smoking ban came into power here August 1, 2007. Here, you are permitted to smoke in restaurants with separate smoking rooms and in party tents. Don't light up in nightclubs and discotheques however. Adult age students and teachers are permitted to smoke in designated areas on school property. This includes vocational schools and colleges. Fines for individuals caught breaking the law can range from €40 to €150.

Bavaria (Bayern)
The smoking ban was started on January 1, 2008. It is the most comprehensive and severe of all the states'. There is no smoking allowed in adjoining, separated rooms and in party tents. (However, an exception has been made to allow smoking in the tents of the 2008 Oktoberfest.) Smoking is not allowed in any public building, school or hospital. Exceptions are made for private parties or clubs. Fines for violation range from €5 to 1,000 and the fines can be imposed on individuals and businesses.

Berlin
The smoking ban in public facilities including schools and hospitals started January 1, 2008. However, adjoining rooms can be exempt. Fines started being levied on July 1, 2008. Individuals can be fined up to €100 and businesses that break the law can be fined up to €1,000.

Brandenburg
Smoking was banned in January of 2008 in public places, schools and other educational facilities, hospitals, retirement and foster care homes. Smoking is permitted in restaurants, hotels and cultural facilities in adjoining rooms providing that these areas are completely separate. There is no smoking allowed in discos. Fines for individuals can range from €5 to €100 and businesses can expect fines ranging from €10 to €1,000.

Bremen
The smoking ban became affective in schools and hospitals in August 2007, and was extended to include restaurants, discos, party tents, hotels, the harbor front area and airports as of January 2008. Exceptions are made for traditional and special events. Separate smoking rooms are allowed in restaurants and discos that do not have a dance floor. Individuals can be fined up to €500 and businesses up to €2,500.

Hamburg
Smoking has been prohibited in all public facilities including hospitals, schools, restaurants and government offices in Hamburg since January 2008. Designated smoking sections are the rule here for restaurants, provided that the rooms have appropriate ventilation devices. Party tents for special events are excluded from the ban. Individuals can be fined anywhere from €20 to €200 and businesses from €50 to €500.

Hessen
Hessen is one of the forerunners of non-smoking laws, being enforced here as early as October of 2007 for restaurants and public facilities. Smoking is only permitted in Hessen in adjoining rooms provided that these are separate from non-smoking areas and the same condition applies for party tents for special events. Businesses may construct "separate" rooms without special construction permits until 2009. Individuals can be fined up to €200 and businesses up to €2,500.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Here the non-smoking ban took affect in August 2007. Of as January 1, 2008, smoking has also be banned in restaurants. However, the restaurants can opt to provide a separate adjoining room if they wish. The same rule applies to government offices, hospitals, colleges/universities, foster homes, airports and sports venues. Individuals can be fined up to €500 and businesses up to €10,000.

Niedersachsen
As of August 2007, the smoking ban became effective for restaurants, bars and discos; restricted here again to separate onsite rooms. In this state, smoking is prohibited in public facilities such as schools, hospitals and government offices.

Nordrhein-Westfalen
The New Year marked the implementation of the smoking ban, stretching to include restaurants on July 1, 2008. Restaurants may provide separate smoking areas if the premises have enough rooms to provide this sort of arrangement. Smoking is not allowed in schools and educational institutions and health facilities. Exceptions to the smoking ban here are party tents, special regional events such as Karneval and Schützenfeste and for special private parties and in bars. Fines range from €5 to €1,000.

Rheinland Pfalz
Here the smoking ban came into affect February 15, 2008. Hosts may designate separate (but smaller) rooms as smoking rooms. Small bars with only a main room and service only by the propieter may allow smoking. Students of legal age may smoke in separate rooms and in smoking zones. Individuals can be fined up to €500 and businesses up to €1,000.

Saarland
This tiny state makes the biggest exceptions for the general smoking ban in restaurants. In other words, smoking is allowed in small bars where the host/owner serves. In bigger restaurants however, separate rooms must be provided. In party tents the host/owner may authorize smoking. Smoking is prohibited in all public facilities including government offices, schools and hospitals as of February 15, 2008. Individuals can be fined up to €200 and businesses up to €1,000.

Sachsen
The smoking ban took effect in Saxony February 1, 2008, for public facilities. Smoking is allowed in bars if a separate room is provided. Discos are required to be smoke-free, violations here can be as high as € 5,000 Euro.

Sachsen-Anhalt
January 1, 2008, the smoking ban for public buildings and restaurants took effect. Separate smoking rooms are allowed in hotels and restaurants. Smoking is not allowed in discos. Individuals can be fined up to €500 and businesses up to €1,000.

Schleswig-Holstein
As of January 1, 2008, smoking was prohibited in public facilities. Restaurants are required to designate a separate smoking area. Individuals can be fined up to €400 and businesses up to €4,000.

Thüringen
In Thüringen the smoking ban began on July 1, 2008. Smoking is prohibited in pubs, discos, government offices, hospitals, schools and cultural facilities. However, restaurants may authorize smoking in a separate room. Individuals can be fined up to €50 and businesses up to €500.

For more information click here, here or here.

*** Greece

Greece has implemented smoking bans in specific public places, but allow for special smoking areas. Smoking is prohibited in all means of public transport — including taxis — hospitals, schools, universities, public sector buildings, all work areas, airports, train and bus stations, doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies. All buildings to which the ban applies must be equipped with smoking rooms for the exclusive use of workers and, in the case of universities, students.
On November 8, 2008, Greek parliament approved a ban on smoking in all indoor public places, including all restaurants, bars and public transport offices, hospitals and on all forms of public transport from July 1, 2009. The restrictions will also apply in all outlets that produce and sell food. According to the new law, there will be designated areas set aside for smokers in offices.
Individuals would be fined as much as €300, or $467, for smoking in public places. It will also impose a fine of 1,000 euros on the owners and managers of bars and nightclubs that fail to respect the restrictions. Repeat offenders will face fines of up to 20,000 euros and have their licenses revoked. Similar fines are foreseen for those caught selling cigarettes to minors.
Greece prohibits tobacco purchase by people younger than 18 years old.

For more information click here or here.

*** Hungary

It is not allowed to designate smoking area or smoking room:

• within primary health care and outpatient specialist care units,
• in retail pharmacies that are open for access by patients,
• within premises of institutions of public education that are accessed by students;
• in day-care or residential care service units for children;
• in social care units;
• on public transport facilities, including commuters’ trains as well as buses in scheduled domestic interurban public traffic 24;
• in indoor areas of sports facilities designed for carrying out sports activities;

The employers should provide adequate protection to non-smokers in the workplace. Designated smoking areas may be provided. Schools and workplaces can be declared totally smoke-free if the majority of employers agree to introduce smoke-free regulations
Hungarian law requires restaurants to have both smoking and non-smoking areas, but a smoking area shall not be designated within the same premises (e.g. in a restaurant), except if the indoor air of such area can be separated from the remaining part thereof, or if separation can be executed by using appropriate ventilation techniques;
It is forbidden the sale of tobacco products in educational establishments, social, welfare and health care institutions;
Tobacco cannot be sold to minors under 18 years or distributed as free samples.
In 2009, smoking is going to be banned in most public places including restaurants, bars, etc.

For more information click here or here.

*** Ireland

Ireland was the first country in the world to become 100% smokefree on 29 March 2004. Smoking is banned in enclosed places. This includes office blocks, various buildings, public houses/bars, hotels, guesthouse and B&B bedrooms, restaurants and company vehicles (cars and vans), public transport and workplaces. Designated smoking rooms are not allowed.
Any person found guilty of breaching the ban on smoking in the places mentioned above may be subject to a fine up to 3,000 euro. The owner, manager or person in charge of the workplace is legally responsible for ensuring that the ban on smoking in the workplace and public areas is complied with.
Prison, hotel rooms and psychiatric hospitals are exempt.
The sale of tobacco to children under 18 is illegal. However the smoking age is 16.

For more information click here or here.

*** Italy

Smokefree legislation came into effect in Italy on 10 January 2005 and bans smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces, including public transport and bars and restaurants.
In restaurants, bars or clubs enclosed and separately ventilated rooms are permitted for smoking but must take up no more than 50% of the total area of the restaurant, bar or club and the non-smokers must not be obliged to pass through the smoking room. In such areas food can be served, but they are subjected to strict conditions: they need to be separately ventilated, with high air replacement rates; their air pressure must constantly be lower than the pressure in the surrounding rooms; they must be equipped with automatic sliding doors to prevent smoke from spreading to tobacco-free areas.
A fine of up to 2,000 euros may be levied on businesses which fail to comply with this law. Smokers themselves may be fined up to 275 euros. The fine can double if a smoker lights up in front of children or pregnant women.
It is illegal to sell or give tobacco products to children under the age of 16.

For more information click here or here.

*** Latvia

According to the anti-smoking law of Latvia, smoking is prohibited:

• In workplaces unless they are designated as smoking areas;
• In cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums, video and sports halls unless they are designated as smoking areas;
• In banks, post offices and other similar institutions unless they are designated as smoking areas;
• In all public transport;
• In cafés and restaurants smoking is allowed only in places specially designated as smoking areas;
• In offices, firms, and other public places smoking is allowed only in places specially designated as smoking areas.

Cafés, restaurants and other public catering establishments, gambling halls and casinos must set up a no-smoking zone, no less than 50% of the total area of the establishment, as well as a separate, totally closed off, room for smokers that will need to be appropriately ventilated.
A complete ban applies to the 10m zone around entrances to municipal and government buildings, at public transport stops and residential stairways.
The sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited. Cigarette vending machines are also prohibited.

For more information click here or here.

*** Lithuania

Starting with 1 January 2008 smoking is prohibited in enclosed public places and workplaces, including bars, restaurants, cafés other catering establishments, discos and clubs. Proprietors of establishments caught infringing the law and allowing their customers to smoke could be fined up to € 1400.
A complete ban on smoking on public transport is enforced, but long-distance trains and planes have smoking areas.
The legal smoking age is 18 per Low on Tobacco Control, Article 10 (8).
The sale of tobacco is prohibited in pharmacies, health care institutions, educational institutions, and retail enterprises where 50% or more of the goods available are intended for children.
Tobacco vending machines are restricted per Law on Tobacco Control, Article 10. (Law on Tobacco Control, Article 10).

For more information click here or here.

*** Luxembourg

On July 13th, 2006, a new anti-smoking law was adopted. Effective since September 5th, 2006, it bans almost completely advertising for tobacco, and bans smoking in the following public places:

• restaurants (smoking is only allowed in separated rooms, representing no more than 25% of the surface open to the public, with permission from the Health Ministry)
• cafés, if they serve food, from noon to 2pm, and from 7pm to 9pm
• shopping centers
• schools and their facilities (smoking rooms and smoking in the courtyard are not permitted)
• government facilities
• buses and trains
• hospitals (except in a smoking room for patients).

Regarding smoking in the workplace, the law states that the employer has to insure the protection of smokers in an efficient way against passive smoking.
Individuals contravening the smoking ban face fines of up to € 250 and establishments could be fined up to € 1000.
The tobacco industry is prohibited from sponsoring events for children.

For more information click here or here.

*** Malta

By 5 October 2005 smoking was prohibited in any enclosed private or public premises which is open to the public, including workplaces. However, designated smoking rooms (DSRs) are allowed in bars, restaurants and workplaces. Bars and restaurants with an area of >60m2 have to become smokefree or have a DSR. The DSR should be separate and fully enclosed, and not require non-smokers to pass through it. Fines range from 232 euros to 1 162 euros.
The legal smoking age is 16 per Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act 1986,Sec.14(1), although the purchase age is 18.

For more information click here or here.

*** Netherlands

In the Netherlands, a smoking ban for workplaces, public buildings and public transport was introduced on January 1, 2004. Apart from public transport, all companies are allowed to designate rooms as "smoking rooms", as long as they are especially designated for this.
From1 July 2008 smoking is banned in restaurants, coffee shops, bars, nightclubs, hotels. However, separated smoking areas are still allowed in closed off areas as long no drinks or food are served here and the enclosed smoking rooms have no size restrictions. Offenders face fines of €300 to €2,400.
The Netherlands has permitted marijuana use in licensed cafes since 1976. The Tobacco Act applies only to the smoking of products wholly or partially made of tobacco and does not apply to joints constructed solely of marijuana. That means that Smoking pot or hashish in coffee shops remain legal; it just can't be mixed with tobacco.
The sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 16 years old is forbidden.

For more information click here or here.

*** Poland

Since 2003, Poland’s legislation has prohibited smoking in healthcare establishments, schools and other educational facilities, enclosed spaces on the premises of institutions of employment and other public service buildings, railway stations and airports and in one-roomed gastronomic buildings. Smoking is allowed in designated areas.
In buses, trams, planes and in the subway the ban is total.
It is forbidden to sell tobacco products at health care establishments, schools and other teaching establishments as well as sports facilities. It is forbidden to sell tobacco products through tobacco machine.
It is prohibited to sell tobacco products to people below 18 years.

For more information click here or here.

*** Portugal

Since January 1, 2008, smoking is banned in all public places and licensed premises under 100 square meters in size. Establishments such as bars, restaurants and clubs with less than 100sqm have the right to choose whether they allow smokers or not. If they choose to allow smokers, however, they must have ventilation systems installed to eliminate the smoke.
Establishments larger than 100 square meters, can allocate up to 30 per cent of it's space for smokers. These establishments must install a hi-tech extraction system to remove all smoke from the premises.
Hotels and other accommodation outlets will are able to provide special 'smoking bedrooms', though these cannot exceed 40 per cent of the total rooms available and they also have to install extraction systems.
The establishments where the smoke is allowed must be issued with a Blue sign.
Smoking is banned on journeys that take less than an hour by public transport.
An individual could be fined from 50€ to 750€ for smoking in a prohibited location. Owners of establishments can also be fined from 50€ to 1,000€ for allowing and not reporting an offender. Then any establishment providing 'smoking' facilities and are found not to be displaying the correct signage could be fined from 2,500€ to 10,000€.
The legal age to purchase tobacco is 18.

For more information click here or here.

*** Romania

Since November 1, 2005 schools, health and social facilities, i.e. buildings and their adjacent areas, are fully smoke-free.
Smoking is total banned in trains starting with September 1, 2006.
Smoking in public areas is forbidden in Romania starting 1st January 2009. People are only allowed to smoke in well- ventilated rooms that are not transit or access areas. The bars, restaurants and clubs with less than 100sqm have the right to choose whether they allow smokers or not. If they choose to allow smokers, however, they must have ventilation systems installed to eliminate the smoke. At the same time, bars, restaurants and nightclubs with the size more than 100 sqm are obliged to mark out smoking and non-smoking areas if they choose to have smoking rooms and their rooms specially designed for smoking must represent maximum 50% from entire enclosed space and must be ventilated, must be equipped with fire extinguishers and isolated from the non-smoking areas. The owners risk penalties between 2.500 and 5.000 RON if they do not respect the law.
Starting with 1 July 2010, the smoking will total banned in public places included restaurants, bars and clubs.
Ban on sale of tobacco to minors(less than 18 years of age). Free distribution of tobacco products to minors triggers penalties between 5.000 and 10.000 RON for juridical entities and between 500 and 1.000 RON for individuals.

For more information click here or here.

*** Slovakia

According to the Slovak law smoking is prohibited: on trains (except for designated smoking carriages) and all public transport vehicles, at sanitary facilities, schools and universities, children's playgrounds, bureaus, theatres, cinemas, shops and galleries, sports premises. Smoking is also prohibited at train and bus stations as well as on platforms and bus stops.
The law requires employers to impose bans on smoking in workplaces frequented by non-smokers.
Smoking is also prohibited in all restaurants during main meals, with the exception of restaurants that have designated rooms for smokers. Owners of bars and restaurants who don't abide by this legislation will be fined up to Sk100,000 (€3,320) or their establishment could be shut down.
Selling cigarettes to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited. Selling cigarettes to minors will be penalized with fines of Sk100,000, while those caught smoking at bus, tram and trolleybus stops will be fined Sk1,000 (€33). If legal proceedings are launched in these cases, the violator could receive a fine of up to Sk10,000 (€330).

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*** Slovenia

New smoke-free legislation came into effect in August 2007. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places and workplaces, including bars and restaurants, public transport, healthcare and educational facilities (including outside buildings), sports and recreational facilities. Smoking is banned in all public places, except in smoking rooms that can be installed in hotels, restaurants, psychiatric hospitals or prisons. Smoking rooms are not allowed in hospitals (except psychiatric hospitals), schools or universities.
Workplaces can have designated smoking rooms or smoking cabins if the employer permits them.
Smoking rooms are allowed in bars and restaurants under strict conditions - they must be completely separate, ventilated, and no food or drink can be served.
The sale of tobacco products to teenagers under 18 is banned.
People, who smoke in smoke-free places will face a 125 euro fine.
In cases of serious, repeated violations of the smoke-free legislation for firms, the fine can range between 2,000 Euro and 33,000 Euro.. For the self-employed there is a fine from 800 euros to 12,000 euros, . For restaurant managers there is a fine from 400 Euro to 1,000 Euro.

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*** Spain

Smoke-free legislation came into effect in Spain on 1 January 2006. It prohibited smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces in public transportation, but allowed exemptions for restaurants and bars. Smoking is permitted in restaurants and bars that are less than 100m2. Restaurants and bars under 100 square meters have to provide clear signs indicating whether they are smoking or smoke free establishments.
Smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants with more than 100m2 , but designated smoking rooms may be set up. Bars and restaurants were given until 31 August 2006 to install smoking rooms. Airports, train stations, hotels, theaters and cinemas are also allowed smoking rooms. In hotels, around 70 per cent of rooms must be designated non-smoking areas.
A special exemption rule has been made for prisons, where smoking is allowed in designated cells and banned in the rest, while inmates are categorized as either smokers, non- smokers or “tolerant passive smokers”.
People who smoke in smoke-free areas pay fines of up to €600.
Legal age to purchase and smoke tobacco is 18.

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*** Sweden

Smoking is prohibited in daycare centers, schools (including school grounds), healthcare centers and hospitals, in the public transportation. In schools smoking may be permitted in designated rooms, provided that children do not have access to them. The same rules apply to the public premises e.g. those in which cultural or sporting events take place.
In Sweden, smoking was banned in restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs in June 2005. Smoking rooms are, however, allowed in these institutions. No serving or consumption of food or beverages are allowed in the smoking rooms and it may not cover more than 25% of the institution's total area. Also, smoking is still allowed in hotel rooms and at airports which have designated smoking areas.
In January 2008, The Swedish Prison and Probation Service banned smoking indoors in prisons.
Legal age of smoking is over 18.

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*** United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The whole of the United Kingdom became subject to a ban on smoking in enclosed public places in 2007, when England became the final region to have the legislation come into effect. The age limit for buying tobacco was also raised from 16 to 18 on October 1, 2007. When Introduced in July 2007, the smoking ban it encompassed every enclosed and substantially enclosed public space in the country with the only exceptions being those spaces classed as peoples homes and the bar in the houses of parliament.
Northern Ireland’s smoke-free legislation came into effect on 30 April 2007. Smoking is no longer permitted in enclosed public places and work places, including bars and restaurants.
The Welsh government first voted in favor of a smoking ban in 2003 and the ban on smoking in enclosed public places was introduced on 2 April 2007, three months ahead of the ban in England. Smoking is now banned in most public places, including restaurants, pubs and bars.
It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18.
The fixed penalty notices and maximum fine for each offence are:

• Smoking in smokefree premises or work vehicles: a fixed penalty notice of £50 (reduced to £30 if paid in 15 days) imposed on the person smoking. Or a maximum fine of £200 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
• Failure to display no-smoking signs: a fixed penalty notice of £200 (reduced to £150 if paid in 15 days) imposed on whoever manages or occupies the smokefree premises or vehicle. Or a maximum fine of £1000 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
• Failing to prevent smoking in a smokefree place: a maximum fine of £2500 imposed on whoever manages or controls the smokefree premises or vehicle if prosecuted and convicted by a court. There is no fixed penalty notice for this offence.

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