Smokers in Milan, Italy’s financial and fashion capital, now face fines for lighting up on city streets or in crowded public areas due to the enforcement of the nation’s strictest smoking ban, effective January 1, 2025.
Under the new law, violators in the polluted northern city can incur fines ranging from €40 to €240, a measure that has sparked mixed reactions among locals.
“I think this measure is excessive. If we are talking about indoor places, I agree because smoking can be bothersome and unhealthy,” expressed a local sales clerk. “But if it’s an open space, I don’t see why one should be restricted.”
Conversely, a local content creator voiced support for the regulation, stating, “I agree because I am a sporty, non-smoking person. I hope smokers can understand the need for non-smokers to breathe cleaner air.”
This new ordinance follows the city’s progressive smoking ban introduced in 2020, which has gradually prohibited smoking in parks, playgrounds, bus stops, and sports facilities. The latest ban extends this prohibition to all public spaces except designated areas where individuals can maintain a distance of at least 10 meters from others.
Local officials emphasize that the initiative aims to reduce airborne particulates, enhance air quality, and protect citizens’ health, particularly shielding children from the dangers of passive smoking in public environments.
The vice president of the Italian Tobacconists Federation anticipates a significant drop in sales by 20 to 30 percent due to the new regulations. “When people are in the office, they usually step outside to smoke. It is obvious this will lead to a decrease in cigarette consumption,” he noted.
This ban comes ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and notably does not extend to e-cigarettes.
Milan, situated in the industrial Po Valley and heavily affected by traffic pollution, ranks among Europe’s most polluted cities. Officials point out that cigarette smoke, along with other forms of combustion, contributes to fine particulate pollution in the area.
