Two UK seaside resorts first to enforce major new rule for its beaches

Two beaches in Sussex have become in a bid to “protect” locals from the harmful effects. Social disapproval of has increasingly been enshrined in law over the last few decades, with lit cigarettes banned from enclosed public spaces and the majority of workplaces since the mid-2000s. Open public spaces, including , have largely been considered exempt from the health-motivated crackdown – but that could be about to change.

Staycationers heading to the south east coast this summer will no longer be allowed to smoke on two of its pretty beach fronts, after East Sussex County Council designated Bexhill Beach and as “smoke-free zones”. The initiative, which will be enforced from March 12 – No Smoking Day in England – is a voluntary scheme, but one that the local authority hopes will protect local young people from the dangers of second-hand smoke, as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle on a larger scale.

“Second-hand smoke is just as toxic outdoors as it is indoors,” Rob Tolfree, acting director of East Sussex Public Health, said.

“Creating two smoke-free beaches in East Sussex will help protect our children and young people from the effects of smoking by encouraging people to think twice before smoking on the beach,” he added.

Rother District Council also said it “welcomed” the new measures, with leader of the local authority, Doug Oliver, heralding it as “the first voluntary smoke-free beaches in England”.

“Creating smoke-free beaches will also help protect our sea life and coastlines from the harm caused by cigarette and tobacco litter that is washed into the sea,” he said.

A little beach in Wales became the first in the UK to be declared a “smoke-free zone” back in 2016.

Despite some opposition – including the lobby group Forest, who accused the council of “denormalising a legitimate habit” – the scheme has appeared to be a success, with no smokers spotted on the stretch or smoking-related litter left on it, according to a Pembrokeshire Council report.

But Simon Clark, director of Forest, suggested that the introduction of “smoke-free zones” was primarily about “control”. “There is no evidence that the sight of a complete stranger smoking encourages children to stop smoking,” he told the .

“There’s no evidence that smoking in the open air poses a risk to anyone’s health so this is not a public health issue.”

England could be following in the footsteps of countries around the world that have also introduced stricter rules about smoking – including Mexico, which bans smoking on all public spaces, and Australia and Canada.