British holidaymakers heading to Spain this summer are being warned they could face fines of up to £1,700 for breaking a little-known rule on beaches. Spain has introduced stricter regulations on vaping in public spaces, including many beaches now designated as both smoke-free and vape-free zones.
According to experts at rechargeable vapes shop WickdUp, those caught vaping on a beach in Spain could be fined up to €2,000 (around £1,726). Vaping is banned on 10 beaches in Barcelona and 28 in the Balearic Islands, which includes Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. The Spanish government announced in October last year a ban on disposable vapes as part of a new 'anti-tobacco plan'.
Mike Byers, director of WickdUp, advised: “Whilst it may be tempting to sneakily use your vape whilst relaxing on the beach, it is important to abide by local regulations and laws.” He suggested taking a break at a local bar or restaurant if craving a vape, as smoking is generally permitted in private, open-air terraces that are not enclosed or covered by more than two walls and a roof.
Spain's rules on vaping could become stricter still this year, with the government considering banning disposable vapes and putting more limits on e-liquid flavours. Experts at Totally Wicked said: “A big thing for holidaymakers to know is that many beaches now ban both smoking and vaping. This is happening more and more in popular tourist areas, for example, in the Canary Islands and around Barcelona.”
Smoking cigarettes is also banned on many Spanish beaches. Andalusia prohibits smoking on 53 beaches, 61 beaches have banned smoking in the Canary Islands, 25% of beaches in Costa Blanca now ban smoking, and 18 beaches in the Costa del Sol are smoke-free. Barcelona was the first major city to ban smoking on beaches, and more than 100 Spanish beaches have since imposed bans.
