Bits of sand with fresh air
Some days ago The Principality of Asturias announced that this summer it would join the national Smoke-Free Beaches initiative under the motto "Protect yourself, tobacco also burns". A pilot experience in the autonomous community that aims to protect and educate children and young people against the dangers of smoking, as well as reduce the impact of cigarette butts and smoke on the environment. Because let's remember that, as Ecologists in Action denounced in a study on the accumulation of waste in the coastal zone, "on the beaches, 14% of the waste removed is cigarette filters."
Los Quebrantos beach in San Juan de la Arena is much prettier without cigarette butts in the sand.
Smoke-free sandbanks are Los Quebrantos, in Soto del Barco, and Misiego, El Puntal and Miami, in the Maliay council, but the idea of the Asturian Ministry of Health is "to add beaches in the coming years and constitute an autonomous network of smoke-free natural spaces".
The ban does not affect beach bars and, At the moment, no fines will be imposed, as is the case on the smoke-free beaches of Gran Canaria, where penalties can reach €400 for smoking on the beach and €1,800 for throwing butts, after almost 90% of citizens in a binding citizen consultation vote in favor of the proposal.
GALICIA
This awareness and public health project is not new in Spain, since the council of Bayona, in Galicia, was a pioneer in our country when in 2012 it launched a campaign to promote not smoking on its beaches, germ of the extensive Galician network of smoke-free beaches that would be born in 2016 and that currently adds a total of 79 beaches attached to the program (in which, for the time being, fines are not applied either).
· Barraña Beach, in Boiro
· Chamoso Beach, in Cabanas
· Arou and Lingunde beach, in Camariñas
· Quenxe and Santa Isabel beach, in Corcubión
· Almieiras beach, in Fene
· A Fragata beach, in Ferrol
· Esteiro Beach and Bars, in Mañón
Galicia, 'quality' and smoke-free beaches.
· Perbes Beach and Little Beach of Miño, in Miño.
· A Cruz beach, in Muxía.
· Bastiagueiro and Santa Cristina beach, in Oleiros.
· A Concha and Morouzos beach, in Ortigueira.
· Beach of A Vila, A Gafa, O Pozo, Arnela and Ornanda, in Porto do Son.
· As Cunchas beach, Tanxil and A Torre, in Rianxo.
· Rio Azor beach, in Ribeira.
· Mourillá-Os Botes and Meirás beach, in Valdoviño.
· Coto beach, in Barreiros.
· Rio Ladra beach, in Begonte.
· Rio Azúmara beach, in Castro de Rei.
· O Torno beach, in Cervo.
· Río Miño-Xustás beach, in Cospeito.
· A Rapadoira beach, in Foz.
· Río Tronceda beach, in Mondoñedo.
· Río Miño-da Cova beach, in Saviñao.
· Caolín, Vidreiro, Xilloi and Abrela beach, in O Vicedo.
· Río Miño-Santa Isabel beach, in Otrero de Rei.
· Esteiro Beach, in Ribadeo.
· Esteiro Beach, in Xove.
· As Conchas beach, in Bande.
· Magros Beach and Rio Tiroia, in Beariz.
· Edo-Caldelas River Beach, in Castro Caldelas.
· Río Cenza beach, in Villariño de Conso.
· Area Grande beach, in A Guarda.
· Beach of A Barbeira, dos Frades, A Ribeira, A Concheira, A Ladeira and Santa Marta, in Baiona.
· Area de Bon, Lapamán, Lagos and Portomaior beach, in Bueu.
· Melide Beach, in Cangas do Morrazo.
· Ulla-Peirao River Beach, in Catoira.
· Portocelo Beach, in Marin
· As Canas and Madorra beach, in Nigrán.
· Area das Pipas beach, in O Grove.
· Cabeceira, Laño and Xiorto beach, in Poio.
· Rio Verdugo beach, in Ponte Caldelas.
· Playa de Cesantes center, Cesantes right and Arelonga, in Redondela.
· Panadeira, Silgar, Baltar and Caneliñas beaches, in Sanxenxo.
· Río Miño-Areeiros and Río Miño-Penedo beach, in Tui.
· Con da Mina beach, in Vilanova de Arousa.
CATALONIA
It was in the province of Girona, specifically in the municipality of L'Escala, when back in 2006 it was decided to create the first smoke-free beach in Catalonia. today already there are four municipalities that prohibit smoking on its beaches (also without fining) :
· Sant Feliu beach, Sant Pol and Canyerets, in Sant Feliu de Guíxols.
· Ocata beach, in El Masnou.
· Sa Boadella beach, Canyelles, Treumal and Fenals, in Lloret de Mar.
· L'Escala beaches.
In the municipality of L'Escala, children are protected from smoking.
MURCIA
The Ministry of Health of Murcia has set itself the goal of in 2025 the percentage of smokers in the region is reduced to 5% and one of the strategies has been to promote smoke-free beaches:
· Beach of El Rihuete, of Bahía and El Castellar in the municipality of Mazarrón.
· Villananitos beach, in San Pedro del Pinatar.
· Fisherman's Beach, El Castillico, in Santiago de la Ribera.
· Mistral Beach, in La Manga del Mar Menor.
· La Concha beach, in Los Alcázares.
· Cala de las Higuericas, in Águilas.
There are three beaches in Mazarrón where smoking is not allowed.
ANDALUSIA
There is only one smoke-free beach in this autonomous community, but they have taken it so seriously that the fine for throwing butts can reach €3,000:
· Granada Beach, in Motril.
BALEARICS
Both located in Ibiza, these are the beaches where – without penalties – smoking is prohibited:
· Santa Eulalia del Rio, in Ibiza.
· Talamanca beach, in Ibiza.
There is not a hint of smoke on the coast of Talamanca, in Ibiza.
CANARY ISLANDS
Three out of four participants in the binding referendum proposed by the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria They voted in favor of establishing smoke-free zones throughout the Las Canteras sandbank. For this reason, now those who smoke on this beach will face light penalties that will amount to €300. They are more severe in the town of Mogán, where throwing a cigarette butt into the sand can cost €1,800 (and up to €400 if you are caught smoking).
· Las Canteras beach, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
· Las Marañuelas beach, La Lajilla, Patalavaca, Aguamarina, Anfi, Puerto Rico, Amadores, El Cura, Taurito and Puerto de Mogán, in Mogán.
If you are caught smoking on ten of the beaches of Mogán, in Gran Canaria, you can be fined up to €400.