The Andalusian Network of Health Services and Smoke-Free Spaces (Rasselh) has extended its 'Smoke-Free Beaches and Pools' project to 55 maritime areas in Andalusia. The primary goal is to raise public awareness about the harms of smoking, considered the leading public health problem in developed countries, and the importance of reducing tobacco consumption and its waste.

This initiative, with an educational and social awareness focus, seeks to de-normalize tobacco use and highlight the benefits of keeping these spaces smoke-free. Discarded cigarette butts on the sand pose a significant environmental risk, taking 8 to 12 years to decompose and potentially contaminating soil, water, and ultimately the food chain.

Any Andalusian town council can join this campaign by designating beach areas or swimming pools as smoke-free zones and providing information on the benefits of avoiding tobacco and effective methods for quitting. Non-compliance with this rule can result in fines ranging from 30 to 2,000 euros, depending on the municipality.

The province of Cádiz leads the list with 22 smoke-free beaches, including those in Algeciras, Barbate, Conil de la Frontera, La Línea, El Puerto de Santa María, Vejer de la Frontera, Puerto Real, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Málaga follows with 19 beaches across Algarrobo, Benalmádena, Estepona, Marbella, Mijas, Torrox, and Velez-Málaga.

The province of Almería has nine tobacco-free beaches in municipalities such as Adra, Almería capital, Cuevas de Almanzora, Níjar, and Vera. In Huelva, beaches in Ayamonte, Isla Cristina, Lepe, and Punta Umbría are joining the initiative. Finally, Granada has one smoke-free beach in Motril.