In Zarautz, a popular resort town on the Basque Country coast, a total ban on smoking on the beach will come into effect in 2026. Local authorities have introduced fines for violating this rule, which may reach up to 500 euros. This makes Zarautz the first municipality in the region to impose an administrative penalty for smoking on the beach.
Previously, in other cities of the Basque Country, the ban on smoking on beaches was only advisory and was not accompanied by fines. Now, in Zarautz, the local municipality has approved a new regulation that will be enforced during the peak summer season of 2026, when the beaches are especially popular among vacationers and surfers.
In addition to the smoking ban, the new municipal ordinance introduces further restrictions. It will be forbidden to discard nutshells, construction debris, and other waste on the beach, use soap or gels in the showers, relieve oneself on the sand or in the coastal area, or walk on the dunes. Cooking food, setting up furniture, lighting fires, camping overnight, street vending, and the use of loudspeakers or music devices are also prohibited.
Violating any of these rules may result in fines of up to 500 euros, and repeat offenders could face penalties of up to 3,000 euros. Compliance with the new regulations will be monitored by the local police.
The authorities in Zarautz emphasize that the goal of these measures is not to collect fines, but to keep the beach clean and protect the health of visitors. According to them, even with a low level of smoking on the beach, cigarette butts and other waste remain one of the main environmental problems for the coastline.
Since 2022, the Basque Country has had a network of smoke-free zones, which include schools, healthcare facilities, terraces, beaches, parks, public transport stops, and other public spaces. Currently, there are 674 such zones in the region, with Zarautz being part of this initiative from the very beginning.
Unlike other beaches in the Basque Country, where the smoking ban is mostly a recommendation, Zarautz has decided to introduce actual sanctions. This decision complies with the law on waste management and soil pollution, aimed at developing a circular economy.
Across Spain, there are a total of 879 beaches officially declared smoke-free, but few actually impose fines for violations. In most cases, these are only recommendations for beachgoers. In Catalonia this summer, 20 municipalities introduced a smoking ban on 80 beaches, where violations can be fined up to 600 euros.
In neighboring France, a smoking ban in outdoor public places, including parks, gardens, and transport stops, has been in effect since July 2024. Violations are subject to a 135-euro fine.
Zarautz Beach, stretching for 2.5 kilometers, is considered one of the most visited in the region, especially during the summer months. Studies show that the proportion of smokers among visitors is low—about 1.5%—yet cigarette butts make up a significant part of the litter along the coast.
Authorities in neighboring San Sebastián are also addressing the problem of beach pollution. In the near future, an initiative to collect cigarette butts is planned at La Concha beach, where they account for up to 35% of all waste, and at Ondarreta beach—up to 50%.
Experts note that a single pack of cigarettes can pollute up to 500 liters of water, and cigarette butts hardly decompose, causing harm to the marine ecosystem. The Spanish Society of Epidemiology is calling for all the country’s beaches to be completely smoke-free in order to protect public health and the environment.
