Tourists visiting beaches in a Spanish holiday hospot could face fines if they’re caught smoking. As part of a major health drive smoking has been banned on all of Barcelona's beaches.
Last year the smoking ban, ‘from sand to sea’, was trialled and it was popular with beach users. The measure not only encourages people to cut back, it also helps litter on the beach as discarded butts can pollute the sea.
Those who flout the law face a fine of €30, around £25. It comes into force today.
The city's beaches are 5km-long and used by millions of tourists every year. The city council said: "Barcelona is promoting the availability of smoke-free leisure spaces to protect the environment, preserve positive community life and protect people's health by banning smoking on all Barcelona beaches, except in beach bars and promenades."
Talking about last year's pilot, Eloi Badia, councillor for ecological transition, said: “Last year no-one was fined. Everyone understood the situation perfectly and only the odd absent-minded smoker had to be asked to move on to the promenade."
Barcelona City Council said pilot test’s results showed a significant reduction in the percentage of people smoking on the beaches and number of cigarette butts left on the sand. The initiative received a satisfactory score, more than eight points out of 10, from the beaches’ users.
Smoking has been banned on a number of other Spanish beaches, including Javea in Alicante and three beaches in Majorca. While going to the toilet in the sea in the Spanish city of Vigo in the north of the country could see people fined €750 (£640).
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