Beaches Turning the Tide: More Smoke-Free Zones Cropping Up in Schleswig-Holstein
Expansion of Smoke-Free Zones on Northern Beaches Continues - Numerous beach areas in the northern region are implementing smoke-free policies.
Catch a breath of fresh air on German beaches, as more and more smoke-free zones pop up. Towns like Eckernförde and Scharbeutz are joining the movement, with Eckernförde having already implemented a smoking ban on their main beach.
According to Stefan Borgmann, tourism director of Eckernförde and chairman of the marketing committee in the Dachverband Ostsee-Holstein-Tourismus, the move towards a smoke-free beach environment is gaining traction. Borgmann shared with dpa that Eckernförde introduced the smoking ban on its main beach in 2022. Previously, a staggering 4,000 cigarette butts were found on a specific beach section during the annual cleanup, but only 1,000 remained post-ban.
"This clear decrease indicates the ban is making a positive impact," Borgmann said. Fehmarn and Heiligenhafen are also considering introducing smoke-free zones, as are other locations in Ostholstein, according to Borgmann. A beach section in Grömitz will soon be smoke-free, and Scharbeutz already has a non-smoking section.
The island of Föhr was an early adopter, implementing a ban on smoking on the beach with exceptions for designated smoking areas. There has been no backlash from tourists in Wyk on Föhr, the main town on Föhr, as free beach ashtrays are provided for the smoking zones.
Lübeck is not planning to create smoke-free beach sections at this time, but tossing cigarette butts onto the beach counts as littering. The tourism industry provides beach ashtrays to give smokers a chance to dispose of their waste responsibly.
Kiel, the state capital, does not prohibit smoking on beaches, but littering is punishable by a fine. By practicing mutual respect and proper disposal of waste, beach-goers can help maintain a clean and enjoyable environment for everyone. As an environmental association, the German Federal Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) supports all measures aimed at preventing cigarette butts from polluting the environment.
Cigarette butts pose a significant hazard to small organisms in the soil and marine life, and they remain the most frequent type of litter found in cleanups. Not only traditional cigarettes pose problems, but disposable e-cigarettes also contain toxic heavy metals in their batteries. The BUND advocates for beach and public playground smoking bans and calls for designated smoking zones around trash cans.
Minister of the Environment Tobias Goldschmidt of Schleswig-Holstein believes that the decision to implement smoke-free zones on beaches should be made at the local level. He believes that cigarette butts should not pollute the beach, water, or any natural environment.
The tide is turning on beaches across Germany as towns and cities work to create cleaner, healthier environments for visitors and wildlife alike.
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