Madrileños to get warm, well-lit places to smoke

Smokers in Madrid at last have something to smile, having grudgingly got used to obeying a ban on tobacco in all enclosed public places introduced earlier this month. The regional government has announced a plan to provide subsidies of up to 40 percent for bars to install lighting and heaters on terraces, to give smokers a warm and bright place to enjoy their habit.

Popular Party regional premier Esperanza Aguirre has made a habit of defying the principle behind the Socialist government's attempts to limit smoking in public. After the previous anti-smoking law was passed in 2005, which prevented large bars and restaurants from being all-smoking spaces, Aguirre tried to make exceptions for weddings.

Meanwhile, a survey carried out by a business association has found that eight out of 10 Spanish bars have seen revenues fall between 11 and 60 percent since the January 2 smoking ban.