Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishBritish holidaymakers looking to hit the beach this summer are being warned of a brand new ban at one of southern Spain’s most popular tourist hotspots.The prohibition of beachside smoking is set to be enforced on Alicante’s L’Albir Beach, with the rules coming into place from the summer season onwards.Set in Spain’s Costa Blanca region between both Benidorm and Altea, the 600-metre stretch of beach is accompanied by a promenade including restaurants, bars, cafes and shops.The news was announced by the mayor of L’Alfas, Vincente Arques, who said the crackdown was part of a broader ‘council policy to position ourselves as a benchmark for healthy international tourism’.It follows similar bans recently implemented across several Spanish regions, with the Balearic Islands, Valencia and Barcelona all prohibiting beach smoking.Benidorm, which saw more than 600,000 British travellers between January and August of 2024 alone, is also looking to follow suit. Last summer, two beaches, Levante and Poniente, placed a ban on smoking while on the sand.It comes after Spanish authorities were provided greater powers to ban smoking on beaches in 2021, with a fine of up to €2000, equivalent to £1,700, for those found to be breaking the law. The prohibition of beachside smoking is set to be enforced on Alicante’s L’Albir Beach (pictured), with the rules coming into place from the summer season It comes after Spanish authorities were provided greater powers to ban smoking on beaches in 2021, with a fine of up to €2000, equivalent to £1,700, for those found to be breaking the law The news was announced by the mayor of L’Alfas, Vincente Arques, who said the crackdown was part of a broader ‘council policy to position ourselves as a benchmark for healthy international tourism’ The unpopular ban is hoped to protect beaches against tourist littering while also preserving marine life and promoting a healthier lifestyle for locals.Described as a ‘key contributor to the plastic pollution problem’, single-use plastic cigarette filters are ‘consistently’ ranked in the top five items found on UK beaches during the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean.They are perceived to be particularly harmful due to the harmful chemicals they release into the environment, and take up to 14 years to degrade.Comprising of arsenic, lead and nicotine, these lingering harmful chemicals create a ‘serious threat to people and the environment’, according to Earthday.org.The new smoking ban is just one of several different laws observed across a number of Spanish islands designed to help tackle immense spikes in British tourists.Those seeking a Spanish summer fix should also be mindful to bring a cover up, with those visiting Barcelona at risk of a £260 fine for wearing a bikini anywhere that is not the beach.Meanwhile, in Majorca, anyone seen wearing a bikini off the beach is at risk of a £500 fine.Men who are seen to be topless in areas other than beaches could also be facing a string of similar fines across a number of different Spanish regions and are encouraged to do prior research to avoid being handed hefty fines. The new smoking ban is just one of several different laws observed across several Spanish islands designed to help tackle immense spikes in British tourists in peak summer months Described as a ‘key contributor to the plastic pollution problem’, single-use plastic cigarette filters are ‘consistently’ ranked in the top five items found on UK beachesUnsuspecting British holidaymakers could also be forced to pay up to £170 fines if they buy souvenirs from unlicensed sellers on the beaches and streets, with plain-clothed officers patrolling the streets of Costa Blanca to crack down on illegal street sellers, known locally as ‘manteros’.Meanwhile, the popular boozy area of Magaluf has placed restrictions on tourists’ drinking habits, with holidaymakers unable to drink on the public streets following new measures introduced by the Mayor of Calvia, Juan Antonio.Enforced until at least December 2027, penalties for non-compliance with the prohibition of alcohol consumption on public roads will range from €500 to €1,500 (£430 to £1,290).Last summer, Spanish holiday destinations were rocked by anti-tourism protests as tens of thousands of fed-up locals filled the streets, claiming they’ve been priced out by holidaymakers, expats and foreign buyers.
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