Tourists who smoke on any of Barcelona’s beaches now face fines, since a ban on lighting up on the sand was approved at a full council meeting.
The Catalan capital has become Spain’s first large city to outlaw smoking on all its beaches, following a pilot scheme banning it in four areas: Sant Miquel, Somorrostro, Nova Icaria and Nova Marbella.
Smoking sunbathers will now be fined 30 euros, around £25, on 10 beaches affected by the new rules that cover over three miles of coastline.
Eloi Badia, Councillor for Ecological Transition, said: “Last year no one was fined [during the pilot]. Everyone understood the situation perfectly and only the odd absent-minded smoker had to be asked to move on to the promenade."
