The measure, which will not affect the space of the beach bars, will apply throughout the year
Starting this Monday, July 25, Barcelona prohibits smoking on its beaches. Another door is closed to tobacco. The ban on smoking on the beaches will be valid throughout the year, not only in the bathing season. There will be one exception: You can smoke in the beach bars.
The measure could be considered historic, but it is true that society has become accustomed for years to smoking being banned in places where it reigned. In half a century, we have gone from smoking in the doctor’s office to accepting that it cannot be done in bars.
Modification of the ordinance
The municipal measure takes into account that people have increasingly internalized the convenience of avoiding cigarettes in the arena. Partly for a health issue and partly for an environmental one. A cigarette butt takes 10 years or more to degrade. Although it is planned a fine of 30 euros for those who do not respect the veto, it will be the last resort. The sanction will be imposed only in cases in which, to say the least, a user of the beach sand does not heed the request of an agent from the Guàrdia Urbana to put out the cigarette or put away one of the devices that release nicotine.
Related news
The municipal plenary session has approved the modification of the Ordinance on the use of roads and public spaces in Barcelona to formalize the smoking ban, which was already in force on four beaches: Sant Miquel, Somorrostro, Nova Icària and Nova Mar Bella. All the groups except Valents, the PP and the non-attached councilor Malén Barceló have voted in favor. The abstentionists have argued that it was better to stay on the ground of the recommendation.
The Councilor for Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition of Barcelona, Eloi Badiahas highlighted that a year ago there was 18% of smokers among those attending the beaches and that now the percentage is 10%.