Last updated: February 27, 2023

Smoke Free Status of Indoor Public Places, Workplaces, and Public Transport

All indoor workplaces

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is entirely prohibited in schools and other children’s facilities. However, designated smoking rooms are permitted in many other types of workplaces. In healthcare facilities, smoking is generally prohibited with the exception of patient rooms in nursing homes and smoking rooms for patients in hospitals. In public places, smoking is prohibited in “service areas”; however, smoking rooms are permitted for staff in areas to which the public does not have access. In business premises, smoking rooms are permitted in areas to which the public does not have access. Smoking is also permitted in designated hotel guest rooms.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces to be 100% smoke free.

All indoor public places

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

In public places, smoking is prohibited in “service areas”, as defined in the Act; however, smoking rooms are permitted for staff in areas to which the public does not have access. Smoking is entirely prohibited in schools and other children’s facilities.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces to be 100% smoke free.

All public transport

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is generally prohibited in public transport. However, on passenger ships, designated smoking rooms are permitted for staff.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all public transport, including on passenger ships.

Government facilities

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

In government facilities other than schools, children’s facilities, and prisons, smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas. In schools and other children’s facilities, smoking is entirely prohibited. Smoking is permitted in cells in prisons.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all government facilities.

Private offices

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

The law permits employers to allow smoking in private offices if an employee has a personal workspace connected to other workspaces solely via a closable door and if her/his work responsibilities do not require others to enter his/her workspace. Smoking in private offices is also permitted where two or more people work in the same workspace and all agree that smoking is permitted and the office has a door and others are not required to enter the workspace. An employee may at any time revoke his/her agreement, in which case smoking is no longer permitted. A workspace where smoking is permitted must not be used by others as smokers’ space.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in indoor private offices.

Hospitals

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is generally prohibited in hospitals; however, the law provides that patients may be permitted to smoke under certain circumstances in designated smoking areas.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of hospitals at all times.

Residential healthcare facilities - public areas

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in public areas of residential healthcare facilities.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to public areas of residential healthcare facilities.

Non-residential healthcare facilities

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in all parts of non-residential healthcare facilities.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to non-residential healthcare facilities.

Childcare facilities/preschools

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in the buildings and on the grounds of childcare facilities and preschools.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to childcare facilities and preschools.

Primary and secondary schools

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in the buildings and on the grounds of primary and secondary schools.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to smoking in primary and secondary schools.

Universities/vocational facilities

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in “upper-secondary schools” and specialized vocational schools (ages 16-20). Smoking in universities (ages 20-24) is not specifically addressed in the law. However, universities would fall under provisions regarding smoking in government facilities (Regulations on Smoking Restrictions, Art. 5) and public places (Regulations on Smoking Restrictions, Art. 8). In government facilities, smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas. In public places, smoking is prohibited in “service areas”, which includes all public areas (TC Act, Art. 6). However, in public places, smoking may be permitted for staff in designated smoking areas (TC Act, Art. 8).

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all part of universities and vocational facilities.

Shops

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in “service areas” of public places. A service area includes, by definition, any area under a roof to which the public has access for commerce or provision of service. However, Art. 8 of the Act provides an exemption that permits designated smoking areas for business employees in areas to which the public does not have access. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in public areas (service areas) of shops but permitted by employees in areas of shops to which the public does not have access.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of shops.

Cultural facilities

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in “service areas” of public places. A service area includes, by definition, any area under a roof to which the public has access for participation in cultural events. However, Art. 8 of the Act provides an exemption that permits designated smoking areas for employees in areas to which the public does not have access. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in public areas (service areas) of cultural facilities but permitted by employees in areas of cultural facilities to which the public does not have access.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of cultural facilities.

Indoor stadium/arenas

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in “service areas” of public places, including places where sports activities take place. A service area includes, by definition, any area under a roof to which the public has access for commerce or provision of a service, including spectator areas. However, Art. 8 of the Act provides an exemption that permits designated smoking areas for employees in areas to which the public does not have access. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in spectator areas (service areas) of indoor stadiums and areas, but permitted by employees in areas of the stadium/arena to which the public does not have access.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of indoor stadiums and arenas.

Restaurants

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in “service areas” of restaurants. A service area includes, by definition, any area under a roof to which the public has access for commerce or provision of a service. However, Art. 8 of the Act provides an exemption that permits designated smoking areas for employees in areas to which the public does not have access. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in service areas of restaurants, but permitted by employees in areas of the restaurant to which the public does not have access.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of restaurants.

Bars/pubs/nightclubs

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in “service areas” of restaurants, places of entertainment, and places where social events take place. A service area includes, by definition, any area under a roof to which the public has access for commerce or provision of a service. However, Art. 8 of the Act provides an exemption that permits designated smoking areas for employees in areas to which the public does not have access. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in service areas of bars, pubs and nightclubs, but permitted by employees in areas of bars, pubs and nightclubs to which the public does not have access.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of bars, pubs and nightclubs.

Casinos

Not Applicable
Analysis

There are no licensed casinos in Iceland.

Hotels/lodging - public areas

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in “service areas of institutions, companies and organisations, and also at restaurants and places of entertainment, and at places where cultural and social events take place”. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in public areas of hotels and other lodging, as these are “service areas”.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to public areas of hotel and other lodging.

Hotels/lodgings - guest rooms

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is restricted in guest rooms of hotels and other lodging. Smoking may be permitted in specified guest rooms of hotels and guesthouses. Smoking rooms must be indicated as such by a sign. Guest rooms where smoking is permitted shall, as far as possible, be adjacent to one another. All other guest rooms must have clear no-smoking signs. In hostels, smoking is not permitted in rooms or dormitories.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of hotels and lodging, including hotel guest rooms.

Prisons/detention facilities - public areas

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in public areas of prisons and detention facilities.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to smoking in public areas of prisons and detention facilities.

Trains, buses and other shared ground transportation other than taxis

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in transport, such as vehicles, ships and aircraft, to which the public have access for payment. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in trains, buses and other shared ground transportation.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to trains, buses and other shared ground transportation.

Taxis (for-hire vehicle)

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in transport, such as vehicles, ships and aircraft, to which the public have access for payment. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in taxis.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to taxis.

Commercial aircraft

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is generally prohibited in transport, such as vehicles, ships and aircraft, to which the public have access for payment. In addition, smoking is specifically prohibited on any commercial aircraft that land in Iceland.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to commercial aircraft.

Commercial watercraft

Smoking is Restricted
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in transport, such as vehicles, ships and aircraft, to which the public have access for payment. However, the Regulations permit designated smoking areas for staff on passenger ships. Smoking is also permitted on open decks on passenger ships.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all public transportation, including all enclosed parts of commercial watercraft.

Public transport facilities (waiting areas for mass transit)

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited in the service areas of institutions, business and voluntary organizations. A “service area”, by definition, includes “all premises under a roof, fixed or movable . . . to which the public have access for commerce or provision of service . . . including spectator areas, waiting rooms, guest reception areas, halls, corridors, lavatories, etc.” Therefore, smoking is prohibited in public transport facilities.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to public transport facilities.

Public gatherings indoors which are primarily intended for children or teenagers

100% Smoke Free
Analysis

Smoking is prohibited at public gatherings indoors which are primarily intended for children or teenagers.