Andalucia set up a network of health services and smoke-free spaces (Rasselh) almost 15 years ago. With the aim of promoting the fight against smoking in the region through the public health system. In 2019, the Smoke-Free Beaches and Swimming Pools initiative was launched.
The idea started with just one beach, that of Motril (Granada), and now there are almost 150 beaches and swimming pools that have joined the initiative. According to information from the regional Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, the region currently has 56 non-smoking beaches and 93 non-smoking swimming pools, most of which are municipal and located in 115 municipalities (in some localities, several beaches have joined). The figure is low when you consider that in Andalucia there are 785 municipalities. So far 14.6% have joined; and 503 beaches, therefore, only 11.1% are smoke-free. On the positive side, however, the data shows that more and more municipalities are showing interest in the initiative. In 2020, only 21 beaches and 50 swimming pools were smoke-free.
Any municipality can apply to implement awareness-raising measures, with signage materials and information for citizens about the benefits of smoking cessation and the health resources available. All they need to do is sign up with the Rasselh by email, or by filling out the application form available on the website.
In addition, municipalities can restrict smoking on beaches and in swimming pools through their own municipal ordinances, in this case with fines for those who do not comply with the rule.
Beach
Of the 56 smoke-free in Andalucia, most are in the province of Cádiz, with 24. This is followed by Málaga, with 17. Almería has 9 non-smoking beaches, Huelva four. The province of Granada has one, the first smoke-free beach in Motril). Inland is the non-smoking beach of Almodovar del Rio (Córdoba). The beaches are spread across 22 municipalities, including Vélez-Málaga (with six sandy beaches); Tarifa (five); and Marbella (three).
Swimming pools
The almost one hundred non-smoking swimming pools are spread over 89 pitches. You can find most of them in the provinces of Jaén (21) and Seville (20). The provinces of Málaga and Huelva each have ten. There are also nine in Cádiz, eight in Córdoba (including two in Baena), six in Granada and five in Almería.
Law
The Spanish Ministry of Health approved the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Smoking 2024-2027 at the end of April. It bans smoking in more public places. It is not yet known which spaces are involved. The tax on nicotine products will also increase. The government’s intention is to pass a law by the end of this year so that many of the planned measures can already be implemented.
Number of deaths due to tobacco
According to the latest data from the ministry, tobacco causes about 50,000 deaths per year (about 10,000 in Andalucia). Smoking is associated with the development of 35 diseases, such as COPD, lung cancer and diabetes. According to a survey by the Andalucian Association of Family and Community Medicine (SAMFyC), almost 20% of the population in Andalucia smokes. That’s the highest percentage of any community. More than 33% of Andalucians between the ages of 14 and 18 smoke regularly or occasionally.
These are the smoke-free beaches in Andalucia
Almería
- San Nicolás (Adra)
- El Palmeral (Almería)
- Pozo del Espartero y Quitapellejos-Palomares (Cuevas de Almanzora)
- San José (Níjar, partly)
- Cala Marqués
- El Playazo
- Las Marinas-Bolaga y Puerto Rey (Vera)
Cádiz
- Getares and La Concha (Algeciras)
- Santiscal
- Caños de Meca, El Carmen, Zahara de los Atunes and Zahora (Barbate)
- El Chorrillo and La Fontanilla (Conil)
- Levante (La Línea)
- La Puntilla (El Puerto de Santa María)
- La Cachucha en La Ministra en el Conchal (Puerto Real)
- Bonanza, Bajo Guía, La Calzada-Piletas and La Jara (Sanlúcar de Barrameda)
- Atlanterra, Bolonia, Playa Chica, Lances Sur y Norte and Valdevaqueros (Tarifa)
- El Palmar (Vejer)
- Arroyo Molinos (Zahara de la Sierra)
Córdoba
Almodóvar del Río
Granada
Playa Granada (Motril)
Huelva
- Isla Canela (Ayamonte)
- Isla Cristina (un tramo)
- Poniente (La Antilla, Lepe)
- Playa del Albergue (Punta Umbría)
Málaga
- Algarrobo
- La Rada (Estepona)
- El Faro, San Pedro de Alcántara y Playa de Venus (Marbella)
- Calahonda, El Bombo and La Cala (Mijas)
- Cenicero, Ferrara and Morche (Torrox)
- Almayate, Benajarafe, Caleta, Mezquitilla, Torre del Mar and Valle Nizas (Vélez-Málaga).
These are the non-smoking swimming pools in Andalucia
Almería
- Benahadux
- Cuevas de Almanzora
- Purchena
- Vélez-Rubio
- Viator
Cádiz
- Alcalá del Valle
- Arcos de la Frontera
- Benalup-Casas Viejas
- Bornos
- El Gastor
- Grazalema
- Trebujena
- Villaluenga del Rosario
- Zahara de la Sierra
Córdoba
- Baena (municipal and in Albendín)
- Cabra
- Cañete de las Torres
- Guadalcázar
- Montemayor
- Posadas
- La Victoria
- Villaharta
Granada
- Gmina Búmaúll
- Cúllar
- Motril
- Padul
- Puebla de Don Fadrique
- Velez de Banaudalla
Huelva
- Alosno
- Aracena
- Bonares
- El Campillo
- El Cerro de Andévalo
- Jabugo
- Nerva
- Paymogo
- San Juan del Puerto
- Tharsis
Jaén
- Albanchez de Mágina
- Arjonilla
- Bailén
- Bedmar y Garcíez
- Belez de Moraleda
- Cambil
- Cazorla
- Fuerte del Rey
- La Guardia de Jaén
- La Iruela
- Jaén city (3)
- Jódar
- Mancha Real
- Mengíbar
- Orcera
- Puente de Génave
- La Puerta de Segura
- Quesada
- Santo Tomé
- Sorihuela del Guadalimar
- Villacarrillo
Málaga
- Álora
- Antequera
- Archidona
- Arriate
- Benahavís
- Benahoján
- Campillos
- Cortes de la Frontera
- Montejaque
- Ojén
Seville
- Bollullos de la Mitación
- Bormujos
- La Campana
- Cantillana
- Casariche
- Castilleja del Campo
- Coria del Río
- El Coronil
- Estepa
- Fuentes de Andalucía
- Lebrija
- El Madroño
- Mairena del Alcor
- El Palmar de Troya
- Pilas
- La Puebla de Cazalla
- El Rubio
- Santiponce
- Tomares
- Villamanrique de la Condesa
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