Smoking in Lisbon

Não, I’m not talking about smoking weed in Lisbon, I’m talking about nicotine – aka cigarette – smoking in Lisbon. Just for the record. I do not smoke, I hate the smell of smoke, and I think the majority of smokers are litterbugs (pipes at least smell nice). I also think it rather rude for people who smoke to expose others to the dangers of second-hand smoking, so I am quite happy about the upcoming changes to smoking rules in Lisbon. It looks like I may be able to take one thing off my list of things you will hate about living in Lisbon (there aren’t many, but the smoking was a big one for me). Without further ado, these are the rules and regulations for tobacco smoking in Lisbon.

Rules for Smoking in Lisbon

• In Portugal, you must be 18 years old to legally purchase tobacco.
• Smoking in indoor public places is illegal in Portugal. This includes cigarettes, cigars, e-cigs, and pipes.
• Littering (aka dropping your cigarette butts on the ground) can get you a ticket that will run you between €25 – €250.
• Businesses and buildings (like restaurants, bars, etc) must provide proper receptacles where smoking is prohibited must provide patrons with proper cigarette disposal receptacles AND they must clean up the waste up to 5 meters away from their establishment. Those who do not comply can be fined between €250 – €1500.

This will be a living blog, so I will update it as new Portuguese legislation on smoking comes up and as I learn of others I am not currently aware of. If you know something I missed, let me know in the comments below. I’d also love to hear from you if this law will actually be enforced.

In the meantime, here are some interesting facts about smoking in Portugal:

• There are 700 cigarette butts dropped per minute in Portugal.
• It is a tradition in the village of Vale de Salgueiro for parents to give their children cigarettes to smoke during the Epiphany holiday (that’s on January 6).
• The cost of a pack of cigarettes in Lisbon is €5.
• Portugal lands at the top 33rd spot when it comes to global cancer rates.

On a closing note, the law that would actually make me happy would be banning smoking in parks, beaches, and near schools (this may already be in effect, but from what I see – I doubt it).