This summer, Spain has surpassed the milestone of having 700 beaches designated as smoke-free zones. Since the implementation of smoking bans in 2014, the number of smoke-free beaches has skyrocketed from just 15 to an impressive 707 in a mere decade. These efforts aim to eliminate tobacco from these areas, as highlighted in various reports, including data showing that nearly 45% of non-smokers in Spain are still exposed to secondhand smoke in terrace settings.
However, the effectiveness of these prohibitions is often questioned. Organizations like Nofumadores point out that while the initiative looks great on paper, the lack of penalties makes enforcing the ban challenging. Raquel Fernández, the president of the organization, emphasized that while the signage is visually appealing and serves an awareness-raising purpose, the absence of active enforcement complicates adherence to the rules.
In many areas, local governments primarily rely on informational posters to communicate the smoking bans without making significant efforts to ensure compliance. This comes despite having national legal frameworks supporting such actions, including Article 18.1 of the Waste and Contaminated Soil Law for a Circular Economy, which allows municipalities to impose smoking restrictions on beaches and penalize violators.
To fully implement these bans, municipalities need to establish specific municipal ordinances, but many towns lack these regulations. Compounding the issue is a deficiency in monitoring and communication with both residents and tourists, leading to widespread disregard for these smoke-free areas.
Nonetheless, some municipalities have taken the initiative to enforce penalties for smoking on their beaches. For example, cities like Barcelona, Lloret de Mar, and several locations in the Canary Islands have established municipal laws to enforce these prohibitions. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, fines for smoking can reach up to 300 euros, while in Mogán, offenders can incur fines as hefty as 1,800 euros for littering with cigarette butts and 400 euros for smoking. Similar penalties are also enforced in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and El Rosario, where fines can be as high as 750 euros.
In Barcelona province, fines vary, ranging from 30 euros in the capital to 500 euros on the beaches of Calella. Lloret de Mar has implemented a 30-euro fine for smoking across its 12 beaches and coves year-round since last Easter.
As the Ministry of Health pushes legislation to expand smoke-free spaces, Nofumadores has garnered 396,000 signatures on Change.org, advocating for a national law that would designate all beaches as smoke-free, not only for tobacco and vaping but also for their associated waste.
Fernández argues that banning smoking on beaches could significantly support the 70% of smokers who wish to quit. Making it less convenient to smoke will provide extra motivation for them to give up tobacco. Additionally, it protects non-smokers from passive smoking and helps discourage younger generations from viewing smoking as a normal behavior.
Beyond health considerations, cigarette butts are the most prevalent form of individual plastic waste found on the ocean floor, constituting up to 30% of all litter in natural spaces. In Spain, an estimated 32.8 billion cigarettes are consumed annually, with 15% ending up on the beaches. By reducing smoking in these areas, children would be less likely to encounter cigarette butts while playing in the sand, and local governments could also lower cleanup costs.
Cigarette butts can take over ten years to decompose and contain numerous toxins that can pollute up to 50 liters of water. Implementing a ban on smoking in these areas is not just a public health benefit but a positive move for society as a whole.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/2024/07/22/mas-de-700-playas-espanolas-prohiben-fumar-pero-solo-63-imponen-multas-la-medida-es-simplemente-cosmetica/
