1575P - Smoke-free policies in outdoor areas: A potential cancer prevention strategy in Spain

Background

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) can elevate the overall cancer risk for individuals who have never smoked. Smoke-free policies aim to protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of SHS and align with the guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. However, restrictions on smoking in outdoor public places are limited.

Methods

Between 2021 and 2024, the Spanish Association Against Cancer (SAAC) launched a program to enhance smoking prohibitions in outdoor areas. To do so, we first identified public places highly visited by smokers and vulnerable populations. Collaboration agreements were established with city halls, public organizations, and institutions interested in the project. These agreements involved advertising prohibiting smoking and vaping, smoke-free events, and training programs for the personnel responsible for enforcing these recommendations.

Results

Since the program's implementation, 358 collaboration agreements have been signed with 235 city halls through the 52 provinces of Spain. Most agreements (n=129, 36%) were launched to free urban and rural parks and green places from SHS. Other included outdoor sports centers and sports grounds (n=78,22%), universities (n=40,11%), and beaches (n=10, 3%). As a result of the good population and city halls' response to the initiative, the SAAC enforced the inclusion and regulation of outdoor smoke-free places in the new national comprehensive plan for the prevention of smoking.

Conclusions

Population-level initiatives to enforce smoke-free policies in outdoor places can result in new national legislation.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Spanish Association Against Cancer.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.