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Tourists won’t be allowed to light up on several of the most popular shorelines in the Balearic Islands
The government of the Balearic Islands has warned holidaymakers ahead of the summer influx that smoking is now prohibited on no fewer than 28 of the hotspot’s beaches, including shores in Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca. The new “smoke-free zones” are primarily aimed at promoting public health but will also serve to clean up the resorts’ beaches from littered cigarette butts.
Tourists need not be worried about being fined if they light up in the prohibited spots on the islands, the authorities are instead appealing to the ‘social responsibility’ of the public. Huge signs have been erected along the shorelines informing smokers of where they can legally have a puff, and all contain QR codes that bathers can use to get more information on the regulations.
Each year, millions of cigarette filters wash into the ocean, posing a threat to marine wildlife and smoking bans are nothing new in Spain. Last August, the regional government in Murcia passed a law giving all municipal councils the right to prohibit puffing on beaches and Barcelona made it illegal to smoke on every one of its beaches in July.
Flouters will be fined 30 euros on the spot.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Consumption said: "The objective of the campaign is to create a network of healthy beaches, understanding the Balearic coast as a playful space for the enjoyment of outdoor activities that enriches the health of the people who come, promoting smoke-free spaces.
"Today, tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable disease and death worldwide. Exposure to smoke from tobacco products has been shown to cause health problems similar to those caused by tobacco use."
In the party resort of Ibiza, iconic beaches such as Playa de Santa Eulalia del Río and Playa de Talamanca have implemented the smoking ban, as have Binissafúller or Platja Gran in Menorca.
Over in Mallorca, the smoke free zones include the beaches of Sant Joan, Sa Platgeta, Santa Ponsa, Cala Estància, Cala Sant Vicenç and Caló des Moro.
"On beaches where smoking is allowed, unfortunately cigarette butts continue to rank as the most found waste product and the one with the most significant impact," explained Spanish lawmaker Inés Sabanés.
Image: Pixabay
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