Who could forget the famous ‘Bin your Butts’ campaign that spread across New South Wales’ beaches in the early 2000s?
Both comical and informative, the ban had a huge impact on the cleanliness of our coast, with little to no chance of accidentally swallowing an old cigarette butt after it had been put in place.
Now, Aussie tourist hot-pot Thailand has announced it will follow in our footsteps, promising to ban smoking on more than 20 popular tourist beaches.
According to The SMH, those who break the ban will be fined up to 10,000 Thai baht, roughly AUD$3850, and possibly face a maximum jail term of one year.
The move follows a recent study of Patong Beach in Phuket, which, on the short 2.5km sandy bay, found an average of 0.76 cigarette butts per square metre, amounting to around 101,058 butts all up.
The cigarette ban will supposedly cover all Thai beaches following a trial period.
The Thai Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Director-General Jatuporn Buruphat said there would be areas away from the beach designated for smokers.
“They can drop their cigarette butts there but they will not be allowed to stroll along the beach while smoking.”
Buruphat said the first beaches to be targeted in the ban include Mae Pim, Laem Sing, Bang Saen, Cha-am, Khao Takiab, Bo Phut, Haad Sai Ree, Patong, Pattaya, Jomtien, Koh Khai Nok and Koh Khai Nai.
Currently, smoking in all air conditioned buildings is banned, non-compliant smokers are fined and cigarette packages must carry warnings and graphic pictures.
