New Survey Highlights Alarming E-Cigarette Trend Among Teens; Stricter Tobacco Laws Anticipated
Public backing for the expansion of smoking bans into more public spaces is gaining momentum across Spain, a new survey reveals. This growing sentiment coincides with an alarming surge in e-cigarette use among teenagers, nearly doubling in just one year, according to data released by the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) for its 26th "Smoke-Free Week." These trends are prompting calls for and movements towards stricter national tobacco and vaping regulations.
The survey highlights strong public desire for more smoke-free environments. When asked about extending smoking bans, support was notable for:
- Outdoor Cafe and Restaurant Terraces: 74% of respondents in favor.
- Beaches: 62.7% in favor (an increase from 53.4% in the previous year).
- Areas Around Schools: 83.7% support a ban.
- Bus Stops: 76.8% support a ban.
- Stadiums and other open public places: 65% support a ban.
Interestingly, support for banning smoking in personal vehicles saw a slight decrease, with 53.2% in favor compared to 62.6% previously.
Youth Vaping Skyrockets, Smoking Persists
The most striking finding is the rapid increase in vaping among 14 to 18-year-olds, which jumped from 6.6% in 2023 to **11.1% in 2024**. The report underscores a critical concern: 93% of these young vapers also smoke traditional cigarettes, suggesting e-cigarettes may be acting as a concurrent product or a gateway to nicotine addiction rather than a cessation tool for this age group. This youth vaping rate significantly outpaces the European average.
Overall smoking statistics in Spain paint a mixed picture:
- Non-smokers: 52%
- Former smokers: 35%
- Current smokers: 13%
The highest prevalence of current smokers is found in the 19-24 age group (28.3%), closely followed by teenagers aged 14-18 (19.3%), despite laws prohibiting tobacco sales to minors. While the total number of smokers in Spain has decreased by approximately 5 percentage points over the decade from 2013 to 2023, this rate of decline is slower than in countries with more aggressive "zero tolerance" tobacco policies, such as New Zealand.
Teenagers (14-18 years) showed less enthusiasm for smoking bans compared to the general adult population:
- Only 56.3% support a ban on terraces.
- Just 47.4% agree with a ban at bus stops.
- Only 54.8% are in favor of a ban on beaches.
Regional smoking rates also vary significantly, with Extremadura (24.8%) reporting the highest percentage of smokers and the Balearic Islands (6.4%) the lowest.
Planned Legislative Reforms
Medical experts continue to warn about the health risks of e-cigarettes, including potential links to lipoid pneumonia, arrhythmias, and vascular damage, emphasizing that vaping creates a new form of addiction. The marketing of flavored vapes to teens is seen as particularly problematic, creating a false sense of safety.
In response to these trends and concerns, Spain's Ministry of Health is reportedly working on an updated version of its tobacco law. Anticipated reforms include:
- Expanding smoke-free zones further.
- Legally and fiscally equating e-cigarettes with traditional tobacco products.
- Introducing mandatory plain or standardized packaging.
- Banning flavored additives in vaping products.
The government has indicated that a draft of these reforms will be presented soon, signaling a move towards tighter control over all nicotine and tobacco products.
