Spain has introduced one of Europe's toughest smoking bans that even prohibits lighting up in open spaces.

The new law, proposed by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's cabinet, prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants and outdoor areas such as playgrounds and the grounds of schools and hospitals, and rejects a Senate amendment to allow casinos to have smoking areas.

The government says the ban is a necessary step to tackle the 55,000 smoking-related deaths in Spain each year.

A previous partial ban, which came into force in 2006, forced businesses over 100 square metres to set up separate smoking areas, and smaller establishments were allowed to choose whether they wanted to be smoke-free or not.

Surveys by the Ministry of Health show that about 30 per cent of Spaniards smoke, putting them at risk of developing more than 25 different ailments, such as heart disease, cancer, lung conditions or asthma. Passive smokers, who make-up 60 to 70 percent of the population, are also deemed to be at risk.

The bill still allows smoking in hotel rooms - although 70 percent of them must be smoke-free - stadiums, bullfighting arenas, prisons and psychiatric hospitals.

Great Britain, Ireland and Cyprus are among the strictest EU countries when it comes to tobacco and have banned smoking in all public places.