Last week Spain announced an anti-smoking law that is likely to turn the EU’s fourth largest tobacco producer from a cigarette-friendly land abounding with smoky bars and restaurants, into one of Europe’s most stringently smokeless.

The law prohibits lighting up in enclosed public places, although hotels are allowed to reserve 30 percent of their rooms for smokers. In a particularly tough measure, outside smoking is banned in open-air children’s playgrounds – even those inside parks – and at access points to schools and hospitals.

Way to go Spain!

Tobacco is the only legal substance that when used correctly, will kill you. According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco is linked to one-third of the 1.5 million new cancers diagnosed in the United States in 2010, and resulted in nearly $193 billion in health care expenses and productivity losses. Nurses can make a tremendous impact on tobacco cessation utilizing evidence-based practices. In addition, nurses can stop using tobacco themselves. And let’s not forget that nurses make a lasting impact in regards to working toward tobacco-related policy changes.

Hopefully my state, Texas, will join Spain this year. Is your state smoke-free?