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Turin is taking a stand against smoking with a new regulation. If bystanders do not expressly give their okay, you will have to hold back your cigarette in the future.
Turin – An espresso on the table, accompanied by a relaxing cigarette – that's almost de rigueur in Italy. But times change; More and more places in the country are taking action against harmful tobacco products. Soon the sight that is all too familiar to holidaymakers will also be in Turin. Italy's fourth-largest city, governed by left-wing liberals, is taking drastic measures against smoking.
Trend reversal in Italy? Turin city council resolutely enacts new smoking ban
Light up with pleasure on the café terrace or at the bus stop? Unthinkable in Turin in the future, like the news agency Ansa and the Turin newspaper La Stampa write consistently. According to reports, the city council has approved a change to the city police ordinance. The update to Police Order 221 bans smoking or vaping outdoors if there is another person within five meters.
The city council approved Councilor Silvio Viale's request without any dissenting votes. So far, Turin, Italy's fourth largest city after Rome, Milan and Naples, only had a smoking ban in children's playgrounds. According to the new regulations, smoking is now generally prohibited in the presence of children or pregnant women. In addition, the smoking ban applies in any outdoor location unless bystanders have expressly permitted smoking.
The ban affects not only cigarettes, but also cigars, pipes, heated tobacco products such as the IQOS system, all combustion products and electronic cigarettes.
Smoking ban in Italy's fourth largest city: “A rule of common sense”
Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo told Ansa that the smoking ban was “a rule of common sense and respect for others”. It’s about “respecting those who don’t smoke.” In addition, the new regulation is a way to “promote a culture of mutual respect,” he added.
Turin is not the first city in Italy to have adopted such a regulation, Lo Russo defends himself against critical voices. He also believes that other cities will follow suit. Sanctions are of course provided for violations. However, the mayor relies on the “common sense” of his citizens to comply with the rule.
Smoking is banned in many places in Italy: a decision in favor of health and the environment
Turin is actually not the first city in Italy to impose such a smoking ban. Already in 2021, Milan introduced a similar ban, which applies in public places such as parks, train stations, cemeteries and tram stops, as well as within a radius of ten meters. The municipality of Modena followed suit with a similar ban that same year. Milan plans to extend its ban to all public areas in 2025. There has also been a smoking ban on Bibione beach for several years.
Silvio Viale, the initiator of the regulation in Turin, hopes that the ban will have positive effects on health. He also expects fewer cigarette butts to end up on the ground in the city. This problem has also been addressed on Italian beaches for some time. For example, a holidaymaker had to pay a fine of 200 euros because he carelessly threw away his cigarette on the beach.
But it's not just the holiday destination that is pushing against tobacco consumption; Smoking is also a problem in Great Britain identified and is taking progressive action against it. Addiction counseling in Germany is also in favor of stricter rules in this country. The demand is primarily aimed at prices – smoking should become significantly more expensive. The tobacco tax was increased in 2023; and it is expected to continue to rise until 2026.
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