Not so strict as in UK - here you can smoke in a bus shelter!**

The rules are being enforced with snap visits from the authorities to check.

Some bars have elected to remain non-smoking, as it is what the visitors from most of Europe and North America are used to; you can of course smoke outside on the open tables. Bars frequented mainly by locals are installing the required ventilation kit and display a blue sign 'Smoking permitted' outside.

**off-topic but I note that the outside smoking area at a public house in UK I have been known to frequent is about the same size and shape as a bus shelter, the latter now solemnly display signs declaring 'It is illegal to smoke on these premises'. Premises?

There has been a lot of confusion regarding the "ban" as the government has been deliberately obscure about the rules. All eating establishments are non-smoking. Bars with a floor area over 100m2 have to have a 70% non-smoking area, they can partition off 30% of the premises as a smoking area, but have to install extraction systems for that area, even though presumably everyone who uses it will be a smoker (?!).

Under 100m2 with extraction systems - carry on smoking. Smoking bars have signs in blue stating you can smoke, non-smoking bars have a red sign stating no smoking.

Gold-Spot in old town Albufeira is having it's extraction system installed today, we at Floyd's Bar are hoping to have ours installed by the end of the week. Don't go up to the Strip much, so I am not sure about the situation there.

Thanks guys,

Good to have some up to date genuine info

regards

Not much open on The Strip at the moment but what bars are they are all non smoking, its outside I'm afraid. The Coyote in St Eulalia is smoking he has the blue sign up, and The Rockline is waiting to have the extraction system updated. Cheers jayjan