Smoking has been banned on all of Barcelona's beaches in a major health drive. A trial ban 'from sand to sea' had run last year and was well-received by beach users.
As well as the health risks of smoking, discarded butts cause litter and are a pollutant in the sea. People who flout the law, which comes into force today (July 1), face a fine of 30 euro (£25).
The city's beaches are five kilometres long and are used by almost four million people every bathing system, with families with children representing around nine per cent of users. The city council says: "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 euros (£640).
