Important news, in Turin, for smokers and non-smokers. The city council has just approved an amendment to the urban police regulation which will prohibit smoking or vaping in open places within five meters of other people. The modification proposal was presented by councilor Silvio Viale and obtained the approval of 21 councilors with two abstentions and no opponents.
What does the ban include?
The amendment introduces a letter V to urban police regulation 221 which establishes the ban on «smoking in any case in the presence of children or pregnant women and in any outdoor place at a distance of less than five meters from other people, without their explicit consent; the smoking ban concerns cigarettes, cigars, pipes, heated tobacco, any combustion product and electronic cigarettes”.
Other cities that ban smoking
Turin is not the first city to introduce this type of ban. In reality, other Italian and European cities have envisaged limitations on the basis of the latest scientific studies and a changed sensitivity towards the freedom of both smokers and non-smokers.
In Milanfor example, the ban was introduced on January 19, 2021 and concerns open areas and a radius of ten meters (in 2025 it will be extended to all public areas, while now it is limited to tram stops, parks, stations, cemeteries, stadiums and oratories). A few months later, from March 21, 2021, a similar order was also issued by Municipality of Modena. There is a ban on the consumption of cigarettes also electronic in public places.
In June, also 2021, it also queued They flyone town in Trentino who launched the project Volanonsmokes. Scattered around the city there are signs that prohibit smoking outdoors near sensitive places, under penalty of a fine of 25 to 250 euros. For example, in front of schools and sports centres, inside municipal parks and at public transport stops. Also prohibited on the beach for children 8 km of beach Bibione, where smoking under the umbrella has been prohibited since 2019. You can light a cigarette in kiosks where there is no ban and in dedicated areas. TO Turin there was already a ban in children’s play areas.
Viale: “A cultural and health issue”
For Silvio Viale it is «a cultural issue and respect between people. Staying away when you smoke is something that is already done out of good manners, but the regulation will contribute to reducing the impact of smoking, which remains the main cause of medical and oncological diseases and will encourage more conscious consumption.” For the Radical councilor the measure could also improve the plague of cigarette butt abandonment.
