Spain is on the cusp on banning smoking in outdoor spaces such as beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops and stadiums. 

The country’s left-wing Government introduced the bill yesterday, with the Health Minister arguing that, "Everyone has a right to breathe clean air”. 

Vapes will also be included in the ban. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Heart Foundation spokesperson Chris Macey argued that Ireland should "absolutely" do likewise. 

 “The US Surgeon General has said there’s no safe level of exposure to smoke anywhere, indoor or outdoor,” he explained. 

“I suppose it’s not really surprising; a smoker inhales about 15% of the cigarette, the rest goes into the air around them or is inhaled by people in the vicinity. 

“We’re talking about cigarette smoke that contains 4,000 chemical elements of rocket fuel.” 

A woman smoking a cigarette on a beach in Northern Ireland. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Mr Macey added that when people are outdoors, they often have no choice but to breathe in what their neighbour is smoking.  

“I’ve had that situation myself, as I’m sure many people listening would,” he said. 

“It’s really down to the concentration of the exposure that you’ve got; if there’s two people in an outdoor restaurant, one at either end of it, maybe that wouldn’t have any effect at all. 

“But if you’re sitting near people where maybe several people start smoking, then you are going to [be impacted].” 

Ireland introduced a ban on indoor smoking in most indoor spaces, which Mr Macey said had been highly successful. 

“In one year after the workplace smoking ban, ischemic heart disease came down by 26%, stroke by 32%,” he said. 

“The point I’m trying to make is the concentration of matters around people, indoor or outdoor, as the US Surgeon General has said, there is no safe level of exposure to this.” 

Last year, the Government approved legislation to increase the smoking age to 21.

Main image: A woman smoking on a beach. Picture by: John Oates / Alamy.com.