The first sample application of 2025 started in Milan. The first fines for those who smoke outdoors are up to 240 euros.

The Lombardy capital is leading the fight against smoking, and this year, it will be the first large Italian city to be completely smoke-free. Smoking is now prohibited in all outdoor public spaces, including the streets and tables outside bars and restaurants. Citizens who smoke will be fined and risk a fine of between 40 and 240 euros if they do not comply with the obligation.

Except for electronic cigarettes (allowed), the smoking ban in Milan has been extended “to all public areas or for public use including road areas” since the day before yesterday, except “isolated places where smoking is possible respecting the distance of at least 10 meters from other people.” However, the premises owners will not be penalised if customers smoke outdoors despite the ban.

On the old continent, including Italy, on average, 24% of citizens smoke. This percentage is growing among young people: 30.2% use traditional cigarettes, heated tobacco, or electronic cigarettes. Sweden is the first smoke-free country in the world, where only 4.5% of its population smokes. This is an important goal that the European Union has set for itself in 15 years, in 2040.

At the beginning of the millennium, a study published by the British Medical Journal indicated that each cigarette smoked reduced life expectancy by 11 minutes. According to the analysis of researchers at University College London, the numbers are much worse. On average, each cigarette can reduce the smoker’s life by approximately 20 minutes—precisely 17 in men and 22 in women—as reported by the Journal of Addiction. A pack of 20 cigarettes is equivalent to 7 hours of life stolen.

Belgium has said goodbye to e-cigarettes

Belgium has said goodbye to disposable electronic cigarettes, thus becoming the first country in Europe to introduce the ban as of yesterday, January 1st. The Belgian government also asks Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission to extend this measure to 26 EU countries. The new rules include a smoking ban in numerous public spaces, such as sports facilities, zoos, playgrounds and areas near schools and hospitals.

The Belgian Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, explained that this is necessary for “health and environmental reasons,” urging the Commission to modernize tobacco legislation.