January 27, 2018 | By Thai PBS


Starting February 1, Cha-am beach and 23 other popular tourist beaches in 15 coastal provinces will be declared no-cigarette zones and anyone caught smoking, littering cigarette butts or discard cigarette packets on these beaches will face one-year imprisonment and/or 100,000 baht in fine.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources’ ban against smoking on the beaches was announced in the Royal Gazette on last Nov 2 and will become effective on Feb 1.

The department decided to impose strict measures against cigarette smoking and littering of cigarette butts and packets on the beaches in 15 coastal provinces after it was discovered that substantial amount of cigarette butts and discarded cigarette packets were among garbage littered on beaches.
When soaked in water, cigarette butts and cigarette packets will release toxic substances such as cadmium, lead and arsenic acid into the sea which will affect food chain, said Mr Bannarak Sermthong, director of Marine and Coastal Management Office 4.

Mr Bannarak explained that the ban covers no smoking on the beaches and no littering of cigarette butts or cigarette packets on the beaches. However, he noted that in the initial stage, violators would be warned instead of being fined or slapped with imprisonment.

Besides Cha-am beach, Phetchaburi deputy governor Natthawut Petpromsorn said, in the future, more beaches in the province such as Chao Samran beach would be declared no-smoking zones. Meanwhile, Mr Sripetch Inpanthang, vice mayor of Cha-am municipal, said the municipal would arrange for 50 smoking points along the 5.5-km Cha-am beach so that smokers would have their exclusive zones to smoke. He added that more smoking points would be added in the future.



The 24 smoke-fee beaches are:

1.Ban Cheun Beach, Trat
2.Laem Sade Beach, Chanthaburi
3.Saeng Chan Beach, Rayong
4.Bang Kaen Beach, Chon Buri
5.Tham Pang Beach, Chon Buri
6.Sai Kaeo Beach, Chon Buri
7.Dong Tan Beach, Chon Buri
8.Cha-am Beach, Phetchaburi
9.Hua Hin Beach, Prachuap Khiri Khan
10.Khao Takiab Beach, Prachuap Khiri Khan
11.Hat Said Res Beach, Champhon
12.Bo Phut Beach, Ko Samui, Surat Thani
13.Chalok Ban Kao Beach, Ko Phangan, Surat Thani
14.Plai Sai Beach, Nakhon Si Thammarat
15.Chalatat Beach, Songkhla
16.Wasukree Beach, Pattani
17.Patong Beach, Phuket
18.Ko Kai Nok Beach, Phang-nga
19.Ko Kai Nai Beach, Phang-nga
20.Khao Lak Beach, Phang-nga
21.Phra Ae Beach, Krabi
22.Khlong Dao Beach, Krabi
23.Khok Wang Beach, Krabi
24.Hat Samran Beach, Trang

Smoking ban at 24 beaches in 15 coastal provinces takes effect on Feb 1 - Thai PBS English News