Popular Spanish beach announces huge ban with £1,700 fine | Travel News | Travel

A beach loved by Brits has introduced a new rule for this summer and it’s one that many might not be happy about. The prohibition of beachside smoking is set to be enforced on Alicante’s L’Albir Beach, with the rules coming into place from the summer season onwards, reports Daily Mail.

Alicante is a popular place for Brits to visit during the summer and the new rule may come as a shock to some. Located in Spain’s Costa Blanca region between both Benidorm and Altea, the 600-metre stretch of beach is accompanied by a promenade including restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. The new rule was announced by the mayor of L’Alfas, Vincente Arques – he said the measure is part of a broader “council policy to position ourselves as a benchmark for healthy international tourism.”

But this isn’t the first ban of its kind to be introduced.

Many other areas in Spain have set similar rules with the Balearic Islands, Valencia and Barcelona all prohibiting smoking on their beaches.

Brits should be aware that Benidorm is also looking to implement the rule.

Benidorm is one of the most popular places for Brits to travel to, with a huge 600,000 heading from the UK to the area for a holiday in 2024.

In 2021, Spanish authorities were given greater powers to ban smoking on beaches.

While the pan may be unpopular, it aims to protect beaches against littering and will also preserve marine life.

Another benefit is to promote a healthier lifestyle for residents of the area.

Cigarette filters which are often single-use and plastic, are one of the main contributors to plastic pollution.

They are perceived to be particularly harmful due to the harmful chemicals they release into the environment, and can take a huge 14 years to degrade.

With new tourist rules in place, it’s not just smoking that Spanish authorities are cracking down on.

Tourists visiting Barcelona should make sure to bring a cover up as fines of £260 can be handed out for wearing a bikini anywhere that’s not the beach. In Majorca, anyone seen wearing a bikini off the beach is at risk of a huge £500 fine.

The new rules come after anti-tourism protests have hit parts of Spain with locals putting pressure on authorities to make changes.