Formentor beach in Pollensa, Mallorca

Formentor beach, one of the smoke-free beaches. | Xesca Serra

Andrew EdePalma08/04/2023 12:31
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The number of smoke-free beaches in the Balearics has risen to 28, the initiative to stop smoking on beaches having begun in 2019, when there were just the two.

The campaign run by the Balearic government's directorates for public health and waste goes under the title of 'Smoke-free beaches, healthy beaches'. As well as a public health measure, the campaign aims to tackle the environmental harm caused by cigarette ends. Tobacco waste is said to contain 7,000 toxic chemicals that poison the environment. Cigarette ends are the most common form of marine litter.

Town halls can participate in the programme on a voluntary basis. The beaches that are covered will now have four-metre banners identifying them as smoke-free and QR codes that link to information about the scheme. There are no fines for smoking on these beaches; it's all about appealing to public responsibility and about raising awareness. Elsewhere in Spain, fines have been imposed.

The beaches in Mallorca are: Alcudia (Sant Joan beach); Arta (Sa Platgeta); Calvia (Es Carregador, Palmanova; La Romana, Paguera; Santa Ponsa beach); Deya (Cala Deya); Manacor (Cala Anguilà); Palma (Cala Estància; Es Molinar); Pollensa (Albercutx, Puerto Pollensa; Cala Barques and Cala Molins in Cala Sant Vicenç; Formentor); Sant Llorenç (Cala Sa Nau); Santanyi (Caló des Moro).

Sant Josep de Sa Talaia in Ibiza has the most smoke-free beaches - five in all.