THE BAN on smoking in public, due to come into effect in Portugal on January 1, 2008, has been slightly altered, becoming more tolerant towards smokers and owners of commercial businesses.
The law that was passed on Thursday, June 28 by the government in the Assembleia da República, allows owners of establishments such as bars, restaurants and clubs with less than 100sqm, the right to choose whether they will allow smokers or not.
If they choose to allow smokers, however, they must have ventilation systems installed to eliminate the smoke.
José Manuel Esteves from the Associação de Restaurantes e Similares de Portugal, the national restaurant association, defended the law, saying that he believes most establishments will ban smoking as the costs of adapting the space with ventilation systems is too high.
Opposition
The Confederação Portuguesa de Prevenção do Tabagismo, Portugal’s confederation for the prevention of tobacco, is angered by the alteration.
The President of the confederation, Luís Rebelo, said that this law will not change anything and represents a victory for the tobacco companies as establishments will stay the same and not choose to ban smokers.
The law also stipulates that smoking is prohibited inside and outside all teaching establishments, except those for adults only, as well as being prohibited in offices. It does, however, allow tobacco machines to be placed in establishments frequented by minors as long as they are blocked from having access to them.
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