No smoking within 5 meters of others: that's where

Where and how it is Smoking prohibited? Marking on each cigarette the damage it can cause, increasing the distances between tobacco cylinders and non-smokers, saving entire generations from smoking: in Italy and around the world they are becoming increasingly stringent rules to reduce tobacco addiction, both from traditional cigarettes and from vaping. And, beyond the increasingly creative anti-smoking campaigns, here are the new restrictions.

In Italy

In Italyafter last year we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the Sirchia law (law 3/2003, which came into force in 2005), which prohibited smoking in closed places, the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci had expressed the intention to extend smoking restrictions in public places, even outdoors and also including electronic cigarettes. Moreover, in Italy 20.5% of the Italian population over 15 years of age smokes (10.5 million people, 25.1% of men and 16.3% of women) and the average number of cigarettes smoked increases, 12.2 cigarettes per day and a quarter of smokers exceeds 20, with 93 thousand deaths per year from smoking-related pathologies (Ministry of Health data). However, no national law was then followed, and the various municipal administrations continued to act in no particular order.

The latest news in chronological order is that of the municipality of Turinwhich has just decided on ban on smoking outdoors at a distance of less than 5 meters from other people (unless express consent). “It's about respecting those who don't smoke and it's also a way to promote a culture of mutual respect,” said mayor Stefano Lo Russo, commenting on the proposal – accepted – by Radical councilor Silvio Viale.

However, it is not the first city to adopt this measure in its regulation: since January 19, 2021 Milan had introduced a similar, and more severe, measure: there is a ban on smoking within 10 meters of other people in parks, at public transport stops, in children's play areas, in dog areas, in cemeteries and stadiums. Then from 2025 smoking will be banned in all outdoor public areas. Even before, in 2014, it had been the municipality of Saint Lazarus of Savena (Bologna) to launch the outdoor smoking ban, then in 2021 also They flya municipality in the province of Trento, as reported the post. And then Bibionewhich banned smoking on the beach in 2019, many other seaside resorts have adopted the same ordinance, from Stintino to Rimini.

In the UK

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also proposing in Great Britain, where around 80 thousand people die every year from smoking, a law according to which anyone who turns 15 from 2024 (i.e. those born after January 1, 2009) will never be legally sold cigarettes. The law also refers to vaporizers and e-cigs, so it aims to create the first smoke-free generation. The rule is progressive: every year the age of tobacco sales will be raised by one year, with the aim of preventing today's young people from starting to smoke and bringing the smoking rate among young people between 14 and 30 years close to to zero by 2040.
The law has begun its process in the House of Lords, will have to go through several readings and could come to a final vote in mid-June.

In New Zealand

Sunak's anti-smoking law was inspired by a similar law that had been much talked about in New Zealand: the law was supposed to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to those born after 2009 and decrease the number of tobacco retailers, as well as the nicotine content of individual products. The law was supposed to come into force last July, but was repealed by the new government in February 2024.

In the USA

In the United States the California he was the first in the world to introduce an anti-smoking law in the workplace in 1994, and a total ban on smoking in closed spaces in 1998. Then smoking is prohibited on the beach, in sports fields, but also on the street if you are less than 6 meters from the entrance to a public office or college.
Throughout the country, the Food and Drug Administration has officially changed since 2020 the federal minimum age to purchase tobacco is 18 to 21. The minimum age applies to all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vape cartridges. Deterrence is also achieved by increasing the cost of cigarette packs (not less than 15 dollars).
TO New York there is a total ban on smoking: you can only do it on the street, but at least 30 meters from the entrance to the buildings, but in any case not on the pavement outside schools, childcare centers and health facilities. There are special smoking bars or areas dedicated to smokers.

In the rest of the world

According to the World Health Organization, more than a quarter of the world's population is covered by smoking bans in public spaces. The Bhutan, as of 2011, is the only state in the world to have completely banned the sale and practice of smoking tobacco. L'Ireland was the first to ban smoking in all indoor workplaces, in 2004, followed by Mexicowith smoking bans on beaches, parks and some homes and the Portugal, which aims to become a smoke-free country by 2040, including banning all tobacco products in bars and cafes. In Canadaafter the health warnings on cigarette packets, alerts have also been introduced on individual cigarettes.