Tourists have been warned of a new rule on certain beaches in Spain that could see people fined heft sums. Smoking is now illegal on all beaches in Barcelona, with the ban coming into effect since Friday, July 1.
This means that anyone caught smoking on any of the city's beaches will be fined €30, the Irish Mirror reports. The new law comes after a pilot project last year which saw smoking banned on four of the city's 10 local beaches.
The pilot project saw the amount of cigarettes butts left on the beach greatly reduced, which prompted the new law to be introduced.
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The city website states: "This ban is based on environmental protection & the right of citizens to enjoy a clean public space, free of smoke & cigarette butts."
Spain has some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in Europe. Smoking has also been banned on beaches in other parts of Spain for environmental reasons.
Cigarette butts have become a major cause of coastal pollution and in December 2021, Spain passed a law that permitted local municipalities to fine smokers on the beach up to €2,000.
The Balearic and the Canary Islands, Andalusia, Galicia and Valencia also have partial or total bans of smoking on their beaches, with smoking only allowed in certain designated zones on the beach.
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