It feels as if the golden days of Milano da bere—“Milan to drink,” a slogan inspired by a Ramazzotti-aperitif ad—are making a comeback. High-net-worth foreigners are moving in, rents are rising, and private members’ clubs are opening their doors, rekindling the spirit of the city’s hedonistic heyday in the 1980s, when Elio Fiorucci rubbed shoulders with Giorgio Armani. But as Milan embraces its new wave of glamour, a piece of its carefree past is being stamped out.
On January 1, a law prohibiting smoking in public spaces—streets, parks, and outdoor areas—came into effect. Nostalgic visions of Milan Fashion Week, Campari spritzes in hand and cigarette smoke curling in the air, have been thwarted. Here’s what a few outraged residents who smoke have to say about the ban.
