
Milan's Bold Fashion Statement: Smoking Ban to Fine $249, What's Next for Stylish Smokers?
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Hold onto your hats, folks! Milan is about to shake up the fashion world in a way no one saw coming. Imagine lighting a cigarette on the streets of this stylish capital and—boom! You could face fines up to $249. That’s right, from January 1, 2025, smoking in all public spaces, including streets, is getting the boot.
For a city long associated with the suave allure of a cigarette paired with couture, this is a jaw-dropping move. And it’s sending shockwaves through the fashion scene. The only way out? Find an isolated spot at least 10 meters from anyone else. Forget about it, folks, because Milan’s not playing games here.
But why this dramatic shift, you ask? It’s less about health and more about tackling pollution. A clean air bill passed in 2020 painted cigarettes as the villains responsible for 7% of emissions in Milan and its oh-so-chic suburbs.
Imagine the scene at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in 2026—no smoky breath amidst the winter chill. And if you were hoping to puff away your stress at those famous outdoor fashion shows, think again!
This sweeping ban marks the second phase of Milan’s clean air strategy, which kicked off by banning smoking in playgrounds and outdoor sports facilities back in 2021. But don’t expect to see hordes of law-breakers getting pulled off the streets just yet. Even though the clock struck midnight on January 1, Milan police didn’t bust any party-goers. Bold move or empty threat? You decide.
Lino Stoppani, big boss at Fipe Confcommercio, brands the ban as “symbolic”—basically saying it’s going to be tough to enforce since business owners won’t have to play cop. Meanwhile, in places like Turin and Rome, the rules are just as quirky. Turin frowns on smoking near kids and pregnant women, while some Roman restaurants are still cool with a little outdoor puffing.
Get ready, fashionistas—the no-smoking spotlight is beaming down, and it’s scorching!