Smoking & Tobacco Law in Portugal

Information on the Portuguese anti-smoking law of January 2008 concerning smoking in public places: who it affects and what the penalties are for business or individuals who don't adhere to the rules. With links information on tobacco bans elsewhere.

Smoking - cigarettes, cigars and pipes - is banned in indoor public places in Portugal (as of from 1 January 2008).

The ban includes all government buildings (which must be smoke free) as well as work places, public transport, schools and sports facilities, hospitals, museums, food and beverage establishments, covered car parks, theatres and libraries, bars and restaurants where smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas or venues.

The Assembleia da República agreed the law on 28 June 2007.

The Smoking Regulations

Businesses of over 100m² (including bars and restaurants) must clearly designate smoking areas, which may not exceed 30m², and must have adequate ventilation
Businesses under 100m² are permitted to choose whether they are a smoking or non-smoking venue, this must be clearly displayed and strictly adhered to. There must be ventilation units in smoking venues
The law also restricts where cigarettes are sold. They are not available from public buildings, educational institutions, retirement homes, hospitals and health clinics
The legal age to smoke increases from 16 to 18 and minors are blocked from using cigarette vending machines
People who want to stop smoking are allowed access to the Portuguese National Health Service programme

Fines for Smoking

Smokers caught breaking the restrictions can be fined between €50 and €750
Owners could be fined between €50 and €1,000 for not failing to stop customers from smoking in their establishment

Further Information

For details of the law from the Portuguese Ministry of Health: Click here and select Promoção da Saude, Educação para a saude, Areas de intervenção and Tabaco (in Portuguese)
Confederação Portuguesa de Prevenção do Tabagismo (in Portuguese)
Information from the World Health Organisation (WHO)
Information from the European Public Health Alliance
Information from Tobacco.org