Stricter anti-littering measures implemented on northern coastlines as more beaches enforce smoking bans.
Living Easy at the Beach, But Not for Everyone: More Smoke-Free Zones Popping Up in Schleswig-Holstein
Sun, sea, and sand might be the usual beach combination, but for some, it's now smokeless. More and more municipalities in Schleswig-Holstein are mulling over the establishment of smoke-free zones on the beach.
Stefan Borgmann, tourism director of Eckernförde, shares, "The topic is gaining traction, no doubt about it." The city of Eckernförde introduced a smoking ban on its main beach back in 2022, and the results are impressive. Before the ban, a staggering 4,000 cigarette butts littered a specific stretch of the beach during the annual cleanup, but post-ban, that number plummeted to only 1,000.
"It's evident that a ban works," Borgmann says, "This is a remarkable achievement for us." Fehmarn and Heiligenhafen are considering smoke-free zones, and other places in Ostholstein are following suit, according to Borgmann. Smokers can still find a smoke-free section in Scharbeutz, whereas Grömitz plans to join the smoke-free club.
Föhr Island set the smoking-on-beach trend early, introducing designated zones in 2020, with exceptions for specific smoking areas in certain beach sections. Spokesperson Ann-Kathrin Meyerhof explains, "This means that non-smokers have significantly more space than smokers on the Wyk beach." Utersum and Nieblum on Föhr also jumped on the bandwagon, and guests there, both smokers, and non-smokers, haven't complained.
In the News This Week:
- Local Vacations on a Dime: How you can vacation in the area for free with the Germany ticket
- Street Violence: Shedding light on the recent shootings in Hamburg, possibly linked to a rocker boss
- Islamism: Addressing the rising complaints of incidents in schools
- Laughing in Tough Times: Can we still find humor in this chaos?
- Puzzle Pursuit: Dive into daily puzzle fun
- Sports Secrets: Unveiling the intricacies behind the Torunarigha deal and future plans after Guilavogui's departure
- Culture Corner: Previewing the Japan Film Festival Hamburg, Iggy Pop in Stadtpark, and everyday culture tips
Back to Föhr, there haven't been any gripes from guests regarding the non-smoking beaches. In Wyk on Föhr, free beach ashtrays are handy for smokers in the corresponding smoking areas, distributed by beach chair wardens.
Nicole Dorel, Lübeck's spokesperson, states that the city currently has no plans to implement smoke-free beach sections. Throwing cigarette butts is considered littering and is punishable as a public order offense.
Kiel, on the other hand, doesn't ban smoking on beaches, but throwing away cigarette butts in public spaces, including the beach, attracts a fine of 25 euros.
An Environmental Stance:
Environmental advocacy group, German Federal Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), backs any measures preventing cigarette butts from polluting the environment. Spokeswoman Sina Clorius warns, "Many people remain oblivious to the damage they're causing. Small children and dogs frolicking in the sand could poison themselves."
Beach cleanups indicate that cigarette butts continue to be the most common form of litter. Disposable E-cigarettes, loaded with toxic heavy metals, rank second. BUND advocates for smoking bans on beaches and playgrounds, with designated smoking areas near trash cans.
A Balanced Approach:
Minister of the Environment for Schleswig-Holstein, Tobias Goldschmidt (Greens), believes the decision over beach smoking bans lies with the local level. However, he emphasizes that cigarette butts should always be disposed of responsibly, with no place in nature.
In light of the environmental concerns, the German Federal Association for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) supports the establishment of smoking bans on beaches, advocating for proper disposal of cigarette butts to protect the health and wellness of both humans and the environment. Furthermore, as the trend toward smoke-free zones on the beach continues in Schleswig-Holstein, lifestyle choices are being reevaluated in the context of environmental science and health-and-wellness concerns.
