The anti-smoke reality is arriving to beaches in Malaga, where 19 of them are considered “smoke-free beaches”. The initiative was launched by the Andalusian Regional Government, according to SUR.

The prohibition starts with the commitment from the local council to educate citizens and raise awareness on the smoking associated risks. Given this, there number of smoke-free beaches is increasing, with the municipalities go away from the awareness campaigns.

The councillor of Benalmádena, where the beach is considered smoke-free, stated that “this is good news for the health of our residents and visitors, and it is also good news for our beaches. It is pointless for the City Council to invest in beach cleaning, which it is doing, if we continue to throw rubbish or cigarette butts on the beach,” said Aguilera, quoted by SUR.

In the other beaches of Málaga, smoking is not prohibited, however it is not recommended. For example, the Mijas City Council, according to SUR, stated that “the main objective of this initiative is to raise awareness among the population of the benefits of keeping beaches and swimming pools free of tobacco smoke, as a way of respecting not only the environment but also their own health. It was created for educational and social awareness purposes.”