Swansea’s Langland Bay goes smoke free

One of Swansea’s most visited coastal bays has become Wales’ third smoke free beach.

Langland Bay, a Blue Flag and Seaside Awards-winning site, will be the second beach in Swansea to have a voluntary smoking ban in place. Swansea Council launched a successful pilot ban at Caswell Bay in 2016, which resulted in a reduction in litter levels across the area.

Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world and can take up to 12 years to decompose as they are made from plastic fibres. Toxins from tobacco residue in the butts pollutes waterways and poses a danger to animals who often mistake them for food.

Swansea and Neath Port Talbot have some of the highest smoking rates in Wales. On average 19% Welsh adults smoke, however, in Swansea this is 20% and neighbouring Neath Port Talbot has the highest rate in the country at 24%.