Council ministers within the Valencian Community made a pivotal decision on On Wednesday, August 2, to overturn the prohibition on smoking across outdoor bars, restaurants, and café terraces
This measure had been initially implemented at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained in effect ever since.
Remarkably, the provinces of Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón were the last in Spain to uphold this particular restriction. Moving forward, proprietors in the hospitality industry will have the autonomy to permit or prohibit smoking on their respective terraces.
Notably, those in charge of hospitality establishments vehemently contended that the ban should have been lifted on July 4 of this year. This contention was based on the Council of Ministers’ official declaration of the conclusion of the coronavirus health crisis.
This situation ignited a complex legal dispute, which is expected to conclude with the publication of the Valencian government’s decision.
Other news from Valencia:
- €9 parking fee in place until October. A new €9 parking fee has been introduced in Benidorm, which will be in place until October. The fee is designed to help reduce traffic congestion in the city.
- Green fleet on the road. The Costa Blanca is getting a new fleet of electric buses, which will start operating in September. The new buses are part of a government initiative to reduce air pollution in the region.
- “We can’t cope” – Denia hospital staff slam ‘summer disaster.’ Staff at Denia Hospital have hit out at the “summer disaster” at the facility, which has been struggling to cope with the influx of tourists.
- Road closures to ‘prevent gridlock.’ Several roads in the Costa Blanca will be closed this weekend to prevent gridlock. The closures are being put in place to allow for roadworks and other events.
