Thailand is to ban smoking on some of the country's most popular tourist beaches, with the prospect¹ of up to a year in prison for those caught lighting² up, according to reports by local media.

 

据当地媒体报道，泰国将在该国一些最有名的旅游海滩禁烟。违禁者将面临1年监禁。

 

The move follows a recent survey of litter on Patong beach, Phuket - visited by millions of foreign tourists each year – which found an average of 0.76 cigarette butts³ per square metre in a sample area, which would amount to 101,058 butts on the 2.5km-long stretch of sand.

 

"The butts clog⁴ the drains contributing to floods. When the cigarettes stay under the beach sand for a long time, it also negatively affects the eco system. And then when the chemicals from the cigarette butts reach the water, it also releases cadmium, lead, arsenic⁵ and some acid from insecticide which are poison to the natural food chain."

 

The ban, which will come into play in November, will affect 20 beaches including Patong, Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nai (Phuket); Hua Hin, Cha-Am, Khao Takiab; Pattaya, Jomtien, Bangsaen and Samila.

 

After a trial period, the ban is expected to be enforced on all Thai beaches, as well as on passenger and tourist boats, to tackle the problem of butts damaging the underwater environment.

 

Anyone found to be breaking the law will face one year in jail or a maximum 100,000 baht fine, or both.

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