The ban on smoking in the streets of Milan is coming

2025 will be a turning point for the city of Milan as the anti-smoking ban will become much stricter. This is confirmed by the municipal council with a statement that reads: «Starting from January 1, 2025, the smoking ban is extended to all public areas or areas for public use, including streets, except in isolated areas where maintaining a distance of at least 10 meters from others is possible.» Essentially, starting next year, Milan will become a smoke-free city. This does not mean that smokers won't be able to light a cigarette outdoors anymore, but it will only be allowed in isolated areas while maintaining at least a 10-meter distance from others – this regulation, in practice, will prohibit smoking in crowded public places such as bars, pubs, or similar establishments. The ban that will start next year builds upon existing restrictions for Milanese smokers that are already in place and should by now be well-known. Smoking is not allowed in Piazza Duomo, parks (unless there is at least a 10-meter distance from others), playgrounds, sports areas, areas dedicated to children's recreational activities, tram, bus, and tram stops, cemeteries, dog areas, and all sports facilities, including San Siro Stadium. These rules not only go unheeded by those unfamiliar with the city, but are often unknown. It must be said that the city's stance on violations of the smoking ban has been transparent from the start: to avoid a flurry of fines - but now is finally the time for change.

Ban on e-cigarettes, fines, and reasons for the ban

Given the drastic decline in cigarette smokers alongside an exponential increase in e-cigarette (Iqos or similar) users, it is the latter who are most affected by the measure from Palazzo Marino - Milan's city hall: currently, e-cigarettes are still allowed to be smoked freely. Another aspect that particularly concerns smokers is the fines. Fines for offenders range from €40 to €240. The regulation will come into effect to limit the negative effects of smog, of which Milan is a victim - the second most polluted city in Europe according to the ISGlobal Ranking of Cities. Tobacco combustion contributes to increasing levels of pollutants in the air. Roberto Boffi, head of Pneumology at the Milan Institute of Tumors, has explained several times that the cigarette «emits fine and ultrafine particles harmful to health in amounts even greater than the largest engines. A cigarette pollutes three times more than a truck and just five cigarettes are needed to pollute as much as a locomotive.». A study conducted in 2015 by the Institute showed that on summer evenings, due to outdoor smoking, there is more PM2.5 pollution in pedestrian streets in Brera than in nearby busy streets. Smokers will therefore be forced to change their habits in full respect of others. They can enjoy their last "free" summer before the new regulations come into effect.