Smokers banned from British beach as council steps up its health regime

ADAM ASPINALL
4 JUNE 2015
Mirror UK

Pro-cigarette lobbyists say the rule, in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is ‘bonkers’ but officials insist it will protect young people and the environment
GettyTenby seafront and beach in Pembrokeshire, WalesStub it out: There’ll be no lighting up on one Welsh beach
Britain is set to get its first no-smoking beach – in a move branded as “idiotic”.
Officials say they are making the drastic step to curb youngsters from taking up smoking on holiday.
The ban is expected to start with one beach in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, next summer and could be extended to others along the National Park coastline.
Environment chief Cllr Huw George said: “We want young people to think smoking isn’t the norm and instil a healthy lifestyle.
“There is also the problem of cigarette stubs littering beaches and being washed out to sea, endangering the fish and seabirds.”
But Simon Clark, of the ­pro-smoking group FOREST, said: “It is idiotic and bonkers. There is no evidence of health risk from smoking in the open air.”
Anti-smoking campaiger Jamie Matthews said: “This is the first council in the UK to consider a smoking ban on beaches.
“It is an area where young people are influenced by adults smoking.
“If they sit around smokers on beaches they are exposed to second- hand smoking.”
The council is expected to give the ban the go ahead later in the summer and be in place for the start of the holiday season next year probably at popular Barafundle Bay run by the National Trust.

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