London - Cigarettes could be banned on beaches in Brighton to keep the seaside smoke-free.
The move – branded an “attack on personal freedom” by campaigners – would make the city the first in the UK to outlaw people from lighting up on the shore.
The plans have been drawn up by Brighton and Hove Council, which is run by a minority Green Party administration.
It is part of a consultation asking residents if they would support a move to extend smoke-free outdoor areas in the city, which already bans smoking in 42 children’s playgrounds.
The local authority’s health and wellbeing board will consider a report tomorrow looking at the benefits of more smoke-free public areas, which would include public parks as well as beaches.
If approved, the consultation in Brighton will run for 12 weeks from Wednesday.
Board chairperson Daniel Yates said: “We’re keen to keep people safe from the effects of smoking in public areas, especially children who are most vulnerable. However we also want to ensure any measures taken have the support of residents in the city.”
Smoking is one of Brighton’s leading causes of premature death, and the proposed smoke-free areas are the places where children are most likely to be present, especially during school holidays, when parks and beaches are busiest.
Brighton and Hove’s director of public health Tom Scanlon said: “Tobacco smoke typically contains more than 170 toxins including carcinogens and air pollutants.
“Outdoor tobacco smoke dissipates more quickly than indoor smoke but in certain concentrations and weather conditions it still poses an additional health risk to non-smokers.”
But pro-smoking lobby group Forest said the proposed move would not be fair. Director Simon Clark said: “Smokers should smoke responsibly, with consideration for others around them, but extending the smoking ban to open spacesis unnecessary and unjust.
“These persistent attacks on people’s lifestyle, and the unfounded scaremongering about the risk to others, must stop.”
Daily Mail