Tenerife Launches Island-Wide Smoke-Free Zone Initiative

Tenerife is launching a new public health initiative to create smoke-free and vape-free zones across all 31 of the island’s municipalities. The local government (Cabildo) aims to make daily environments healthier by discouraging the use of tobacco and electronic devices in high-traffic areas, including public squares, schools, health clinics, and transport hubs.

Starting this Tuesday at tram stops, the project focuses on raising awareness rather than issuing fines. The government has clarified that the new signage—which will be installed at over 150 locations by the end of the year—is intended to encourage voluntary compliance. By making these spaces smoke-free, the initiative aims to denormalize smoking in public, a strategy supported by the Spanish Association Against Cancer, which identifies smoking as the leading preventable cause of cancer.

The project has the full support of all Tenerife municipalities and will use public transport to spread the message. The Department of Mobility confirmed that the 27 stops on tram lines 1 and 2 will be the first to feature the signs, reaching more than 90,000 daily passengers. Following this, the program will expand to include bus stops across the island.

This approach aligns with international health recommendations to protect vulnerable groups, such as children and those with respiratory issues, from secondhand smoke. By choosing education over punishment, the Cabildo hopes to foster a culture of mutual respect and individual responsibility, highlighting the scientific evidence behind the risks of smoking while avoiding direct conflict with smokers.