Spain likely to enact tough anti-smoking law

SPAIN Famed for its smoke-filled bars, corner cafes and restaurants, Spain set the stage for a tough new anti-smoking law that will rid the country of its dubious status as one of Western Europe's easiest places to light up. The bill passed by parliamentary commission calls for transforming all bars and restaurants into no-smoking zones, bringing Spain in line with the European Union's strictest anti-smoking nations and many U.S. states that bar smoking in enclosed public places. It's expected to pass the Senate and become law on Jan. 2.