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Unfortunately it seems that the Spanish government has backtracked over its decision to enforce and strengthen smoking ban laws in certain public places in Spain. It has been decided to work toward consensus to make people change their habits, rather than making it compulsory.

That’s probably bad news for some expats in Spain who are more used to the rigid enforcement of the no smoking laws over there. I’m sure those smokers in Spain will be complaining about infringement of their so-called ‘rights’ if they can no longer use tobacco in public places. Sadly, they forget about the rights of non-smokers to be able to go out and not be subjected to the smoke and smells of nicotine.

When we talk about an individual’s rights, what about this scenario?

Supposing someone loved loud music, the louder the better. Wherever they go they have to take their ghetto blaster, after all that’s their ‘right.’ They go for a meal, and whilst sat at the table they have their music turned up full blast. The tables shake, no one can hear themselves. Oh, and on the next table someone else decides to exercise their ‘right’ and do the same thing. The staff behind the bar, as well as the waitresses all have to suffer, their ears are hurting because of the decibel level, but hey, that’s their ‘right’ to play loud music. Across on the other table someone else sits, along with his family. They don’t like loud music, in fact they don’t even own a ghetto blaster. They came out for a quiet, relaxing meal as a family. They aren’t happy that all those around them are drowning out their conversation, and that their ears are hurting. So, they ask those playing loud music to turn their music off, after all, this is a place where they all came to dine out. The answer they get is that everyone is within their ‘rights’ to play loud music, they are simply are exercising their freedom. If others don’t like it then tough! Or else of course they could always leave. After all, they don’t have to be there.Silly, extreme? Yes, but that is exactly what a smoker is doing when he insists on his rights in smoking around others. This is exactly the reason why the smoking ban in Spain needs to be put into place as soon as possible.