Smoking ban in Portugal

[Farol]

When does the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants come into force?

[kteee]

I heard it is tomorrow, but not 100% sure

[Mike,Chislehurst]

Your right kteee, here's the original thread. Very happy new year to you.
viewtopic.php?p=90061&sid=ccb8814afa089 ... c925a3e46a

[dennisg]

Your right kteee, here's the original thread. Very happy new year to you.
viewtopic.php?p=90061&sid=ccb8814afa089 ... c925a3e46a

.....from which we gathered that the smaller restaurants could choose to go "smoking" or "non smoking" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I suppose that in time they will sort out between them that which is most profitable to them.

[bife73]

I gather from the news (Portuguese) that over 90% of the establishments have gone non-smoking! It is apparently complicated and expensive to get the license for a smoking area, extractors etc plus only available to premisses over 100m2....
They just showed the director of ASAE on the news smoking inside the Estoril Casino at 02:30 on the 1st!! I wonder if he will be fined??

[e-richard]

And what is the reality ?
Was anyone out and about in CVO last night ?

Is it the same for bars, coffee bars, etc. ?

[Gambrinus]

Innside Caffé is fully non-smoking.... but at 16ºC and a light drizzle, standing under the arcades for a smoke was not really a big sacrifice.

[ditzy]

Despite the lack of signs in the food court in Algarve Shopping, it seemed wonderfully smoke-free

[bife73]

I live in Carvoeiro and work in Albufeira....and much to my surprise everywhere I've been has been completely smoke free. As a non-smoker it is quite refreshing!

[biffa]

It seems the small cafés and pastelarias are really suffering financially where there is no outside shelter to use to have a smoke.

[Karen Ann]

Apparently the smoking ban was enforced at midnight on 31st December.

Establishments who wanted to have smoking areas were told that they would have to have new extracors installed, new entrances for smokers and toilets for smokers to use away from the other toilets. I think that all owners have looked at what this would cost and decided that they would be smoke free inside.

As for affecting business, I don't think it will as most establishments offer outside facilities anyway.

[tbbr]

THe minister repsonsible for applying the new policy was caught smoking in a casino just after midnight on new year.

elswhere it does seem to be in force but what it will be like in the high season is anyones guess??

[ceh]

I saw ashtrays in various bars this week where I don't think smoking would be allowed (assuming the rules about enclosures are similar to England where you now never see ashtrays in similar circumstances) but didn't actually see anyone smoking in these areas

[Gambrinus]

Apparently the smoking ban was enforced at midnight on 31st December.

Establishments who wanted to have smoking areas were told that they would have to have new extracors installed, new entrances for smokers and toilets for smokers to use away from the other toilets. I think that all owners have looked at what this would cost and decided that they would be smoke free inside.

As for affecting business, I don't think it will as most establishments offer outside facilities anyway.

According to one bar owner, the specifications for the required equipment/extractors have yet to be clarified making it virtually impossible to create an are where smoking is aloowed.

So unless you are prepared in set up equipment which may fail ASAE scrutiny thus rendering it useless, there is currently no possibility to create a smoking area for clients.
Needless to say, that the prices for extraction equipment has gone through the roof.

Personally, I could make a well educated guess at who will be selling the "proper" equipment, but I don't want to pour salt in open wounds.