In a city known for its vibrant street life and bustling piazzas, a new rule is about to change daily habits.
Milan, often a trendsetter in Italy, is preparing to enforce one of the country’s strictest anti-smoking measures.
For smokers, this means fewer places to light up. For everyone else, it promises cleaner air in public spaces.
Starting January 1, 2025, smoking outdoors will be almost entirely banned in Milan. The new law limits smoking to isolated areas where a minimum distance of 10 meters (32 feet) from others can be maintained, according to Ziare.
This will apply even to streets and other public-use spaces, significantly expanding the city’s existing smoking restrictions.
Steep Penalties
The Milan City Council clarified the rule:
“The smoking ban is extended to all public or public-use areas, including streets, parks, and transportation stops, except for isolated areas.”
Smoking in crowded spots such as bars, playgrounds, or sports facilities will no longer be permitted. Even iconic locations like Piazza Duomo and the San Siro stadium will remain entirely smoke-free.
Enforcement will come with steep penalties. Smokers caught breaking the rule will face fines ranging from $42 to $255 (40 to 240 euros).
The policy aims to protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke while encouraging smokers to reduce their habit.
This isn’t Milan’s first step toward a smoke-free environment. The city has been gradually tightening smoking rules over the past few years.
Bans in parks, playgrounds, and other public areas were implemented as part of an effort to improve air quality and public health.
The new restrictions mark a turning point. By expanding the ban to nearly all outdoor spaces, Milan is making a bold statement about its priorities.
Smokers will need to adapt quickly to the new rules, and visitors may also find the changes surprising.
