Milan, the fashion and financial heart of Italy, has enforced the country's most stringent smoking regulations, beginning January 1, 2025.

Cigarettes have long been associated with fashion so much so that lit cigarettes remain an occasional feature of runways. Smoking, like the color black, seems to never go out of style in the fashion world.

Smokers in Italy's financial and fashion capital of Milan risk being fined for lighting up on city streets or crowded public areas, after the country's toughest ban comes into effect Wednesday.

Smoking in outdoors and public areas in Italy’s financial and fashion capital, Milan, is now banned. It’s the toughest extension of a series of

Milan, Italy’s financial and fashion capital, has introduced one of the toughest outdoor smoking bans in the country. The new law prohibits smoking in all public spaces, including streets, with exceptions only for isolated areas where smokers are at least 10 meters away from others.

In the Italian city, those caught lighting-up on crowded streets could be fined up to €240. On Newstalk Breakfast, Tobacco Free Ireland Research Institute Director General Professor Luke Clancy said Ireland should “take note” from what Milan is doing.

Milan has introduced Italy's toughest smoking ban, outlawing smoking in all public spaces, including streets, starting January 1, 2025, CNN News reports. Smokers caught outdoors could face fines ranging from $41 to $249 (€40 - €240) unless they are at least 10 meters away from other people.

The Italian city of Milan on Wednesday began enforcing strict limits on smoking tobacco products to improve health outcomes and municipal air quality.