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ARCHIVED - Twice as many smoke-free beaches in Andalusia this year
Along with Spanish regions such as Galicia, Valencia, Murcia and the Basque Country, Andalusia is encouraging towns and villages to commit to banning smoking on their beaches and at municipal swimming pools.
The Andalusia regional government’s Smoke-Free Pools and Beaches programme is progressing in leaps and bounds in its efforts to encourage a healthy lifestyle, reduce contamination and improve the appearance of its beaches.
At a time when smoking is becoming increasingly frowned upon due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has even led to it being banned on bar and restaurant terraces and in the street when maintaining 1.5-metre social distance cannot be guaranteed, more and more councils are joining the initiative.
By signing up, they agree to not only enforce the smoking ban at the beach or pool, but also to put up signs, raise awareness of the programme and run information sessions on the dangers of smoking.
With this in mind, the regional health authorities have included municipal swimming pools in the programme this year, and 50 municipalities have joined already: 11 in Jaén, nine in Seville, eight each in Cádiz and Huelva, six in Córdoba, three each in Almería and Granada and two in Málaga.
The number of beaches that are signed up has soared from 21 last year to 42 this year. Cádiz, with 22, is the province to boast the highest number of smoke-free beaches, followed by Málaga with 10. There are four each in Almería and Huelva, one in Granada and one inland beach in Córdoba.
There is, however, still a long way to go, as Andalusia has 786 municipalities and more than 500 beaches. Smoking causes 10,000 deaths per year in Andalusia, and according to the latest Andalusian Health Survey, 27.9 per cent of the region’s population over the age of 16 - some 1.9 million citizens - smoke on a daily basis.
Of the total, 56 per cent admit they would like to quit, and as well as running programmes such as the smoke-free pools and beaches initiative, the regional health service (SAS) provides assistance in the form of individual or group sessions at most local health centres. As of 1 January 2020, pharmacological treatment can also be obtained through the SAS if patients meet certain criteria. Anyone who would like to stop smoking is encouraged to ask their GP for help.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Estepona