Little Haven

SMOKING and vaping are to be banned on one of the most popular and beautiful seaside destinations in Pembrokeshire, in an attempt by Pembrokeshire County Council to improve the wellbeing of children and young people.

The smoke-free scheme, which will be enforced on Little Haven beach, has been put in place following the council stating that they believe that children often start smoking due to seeing adults and other respectable figures smoking or vaping in family-friendly public places where they often frequent.

This beach smoking ban will be the first of its kind in Wales, and possibly on a larger scale in the whole of the UK, following Brighton considering a possible smoking ban but deciding against it.

Public area smoking bans in the past have been criticised by some who argue that enforcing such a law is an infringement on personal rights and freedom.
County Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, is launching the scheme.

He said: “We take public health very seriously. We want to do as much as we can to protect our children from smoking and to promote a healthy environment for all.

“Two-thirds of smokers start before the age of 18. We need to prevent children and young adults taking up the habit.

“We know children are at particular risk from second-hand smoke and that they are more likely to start smoking themselves if they see adults doing it in a family-friendly environment.

“It is vital to de-normalise smoking to reduce the rates of young people taking it up and also to reduce their expose to smoke and e-cigarette vapour in areas where they gather.”

Although during this ban no official penalty will be specified or enforced by law for smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars or e-cigarettes on Little Haven beach, non-smoking signs will be in place around the area in a bid to deter anyone from sparking up.

The beach-going public will also be encouraged to self-police the new ban, persuading smokers to refrain from doing so on the beach where children are present.

Cllr George continued: “Anyone breaching the ban may be approached and politely requested not to smoke. It is similar to the ban on smoking in play areas across Wales.”

Teresa Owen, Director of Public Health for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Anything which discourages smoking is a positive step forward.”

The smoking ban on Little Haven beach will be initially trialled for a year before being decided whether or not to keep the ban permanently.

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