Brits face £28 fines on popular holiday beaches as authorities launch a strict new smoking and litter ban to protect marine life
Brits face a £28 fine for lighting up on their summer holidays under a strict new beach smoking ban. Holiday hotspots loved by UK tourists have launched a major crackdown on cigarettes in a bid to clean up the coast.
Local authorities across Antalya in Turkey, a region boasting 400 miles of stunning coastline, have officially made a string of popular sunbathing spots completely smoke-free. The strict new restrictions kicked off on June 5, targeting high-traffic tourist hubs including beaches in Lara, Belek, Çamyuva and Beach Park.
The specific locations were selected to spearhead the campaign due to the massive influx of summer holidaymakers.
Antalya welcomes roughly 17 million global travellers annually, including a whopping 1.5 million sun-seeking Brits.
Under the fresh regulations, smoking on the sand is completely prohibited, and anyone caught discarding cigarette butts will face severe penalties.
The crackdown is part of the “Blue Mediterranean Initiative”, a project dedicated to protecting marine life and preserving the coastline.
Project coordinator Ebru Şahin told local media: “Images taken from the sea floor showed what at first appeared to be marine organisms or sponges, but were actually cigarette butts.
“They accumulate among sand and pebbles, are carried into the sea by currents and cause serious damage to the ecosystem. Protecting the seas begins with small behavioural changes.”
Currently, tourists and locals caught lighting up in restricted areas in Turkey face an on-the-spot fine of 1,764 Turkish Lira (around £28).
While Turkey already bans smoking in indoor public venues, workplaces and on public transport, even tougher laws are reportedly on the horizon. Officials are said to be weighing up a massive nationwide expansion of the ban.
If approved, the smoking veto will extend far beyond beaches to include playgrounds, sports arenas, healthcare and educational facilities and places of worship.
Violators of the proposed broader rules could see fines skyrocket up to 5,000 Turkish Lira (£81). Turkey is far from alone in its crackdown, with several European destinations tightening the screws on smokers.
In Spain, strict regulations govern exactly where locals and tourists can smoke or vape. Getting caught puffing in the wrong place can land you with an eye-watering fine ranging from €30 right up to €2,000 (£25–£1,700).
Meanwhile, France has gone a step further by implementing a blanket smoking ban across all of its public beaches and parks.