Italy: Milan bans smoking at bus stops, stadiums and parks

Milan: Milan has banned smoking at bus stops as well as in stadiums and parks, with effect from 19 January 2021, after the city council approved new measures to improve air quality.

Milan councillors voted last November by a large majority to prohibit smoking outdoors except in isolated places.

From public transport stops to parks, cemeteries and sports facilities, including stadiums, smoking is banned within 10 metres of other people.

The legislation, which also includes a gradual phasing out of installing new diesel-powered heating systems, comes ahead of an outright ban on smoking in all public outdoor areas, from 1 January 2025.

The move by Milan comes a week Florence announced plans to ban smoking in parks and at bus stops to improve air quality in the Tuscan capital.

The measures are due to be approved in February and expected to come into force in June 2021.