As of January 1, 2025, Milan, Italy’s financial and fashion capital, has introduced one of the toughest outdoor smoking bans in the country. The new law prohibits smoking in all public spaces, including streets, with exceptions only for isolated areas where smokers are at least 10 meters away from others. Violators of the ban face fines ranging from $41 to $249 (€40 to €240).
However, the ban is not applicable to those who smoke vapes or electronic cigarettes, focusing solely on traditional smoking. The fashion city crosses smoking culture Cigarettes have long been intertwined with fashion, often appearing on runways and evoking an image of timeless style. However, Milan’s city council aims to move past this association by prioritising public health and the environment over aesthetics.
Let us know! 👂 What type of content would you like to see from us this year? The ban builds on a clean air bill passed in 2020, which identified smoking as responsible for 7% of all emissions in Milan and its suburbs. While the move highlights environmental concerns, it is also intended to “protect the health of citizens, including protection from passive smoking in public places,” according to the council. How this ban was gradually implemented? The smoking ban is the second phase of Milan’s clean air strategy.
The first phase, introduced in 2021, prohibited smoking in specific outdoor areas such as playgrounds, bus stops, and sports facilities. Smoking has already been prohib.
