UK tourists warned as popular Spanish beach launches ban with ‘£1,700’ fines
The mayor has introduced a tought new ban which will impact residents and holidaymakers
A town near the popular resort of Benidorm is launching a huge ban on its beach , which could see tourists fined up to £1,700. L'afàs del Pi, in the province of Alicante, is located around 13 minutes from Benidorm.
Visitors descend upon L'afàs del Pi for its natural beauty and historical charm, as well as its luxury hotels, restaurants, shops and bars. The town is the perfect base to explore some of Spain's biggest hidden gems - from the Ochre Mines to Parque Natural de la Serra Gelada - or to just chill out at the iconic L'albir Beach.
The stunning 600m beach with crystal-clear water offers a rather different experience to the hustle and bustle of party-mad Benidorm. In the peak season tourists descend upon it, trying to secure one of its prized sun loungers, the Mirror reports.
However, the town's mayor Vicente Arques Cortés has recently confirmed a ban will be implemented ahead of the summer months. Starting this year, smoking on the beach will no longer be permitted.
The mayor said: "This measure is part of the council's policy to position ourselves as a benchmark for healthy international tourism," according to local news.
In 2018, The European Environment Agency (EEA) released new data about litter found on Europe's beaches.
Based on nearly 700,000 collected items, disposable plastics are the biggest contributor to marine litter, with cigarette butts and filters being the most commonly found individual items.
Similar restrictions were implemented on Benidorm's Levante and Poniente beaches last summer and come after local authorities in the country were given the power to ban smoking on public beaches and fine offenders back in 2021.
According to the Independent, those who are found smoking on the beach could fac a penalty of 2,000 euros - around £1,700.
Over in Portugal, similar strict bans have been implemented to crack down on 'semi-nudity'. Following a council meeting in December 2024, it was decided the region would 'test' the Draft Code of Behaviour, which explicitly bans people from being nude or partly nude in public areas.
Under the new rules, tourists leaving the beach still in their bikinis or Speedos could risk a hefty fine of up to €1,500 (£1,250). As previously reported, the tough clampdown follows eight British tourists who were filmed dancing completely naked in broad daylight on the infamous 'Strip' in Albuferia.
It is thought the incident sparked an emergency meeting with the local council, security forces and businesses. In a proposal document, measures have since been set out to keep Albuferia 'a multicultural, family-friendly and safe destination', which includes fining those found urinating or defecating in public areas, as well as anyone spotted spitting in the streets.