Brighton Beach. Soon to be a smoke free zone? (Picture: Reuters)

It’s often said that Brighton is tolerant of everything except gluten.

But soon, if the council presses ahead with its plans, there could be one more rule for everyone to break.

The Council wants a smoking ban on the beach.

But how would an outdoor smoking ban work in practice?


Bathers in budgie smugglers and bikinis traipsing off the stones, up the stairs to the promenade to have a gasper?

It would be quite a sight.

MORE: Brighton beach could get a smoking ban

It is also raises the ludicrous possibility of a group of people gathered around a £2 disposable BBQ that’s belching out smoke as they grill a few burgers on the beach, but being unable to have a fag.



Even the most dedicated of smokers would be unable to produce as many fumes as a barbie but they’d still be required to take a stroll off the beach.

‘Yup. He’s lighting up over there, get the cuffs’ (Picture: Reuters)

And imagine the affect such a ban could have on the small seafront businesses that already struggle with the weather and the seasonal nature of Brighton as a resort.

There are numerous little bars and cafes down on the beach on the lower promenade with outdoor areas and tables and chairs where people love to sit out and enjoy the wealth and a cold libation.

Would patrons at such establishments have to head up to the prom too if they fancied a cheeky bine?

If so, that’s ridiculous. If not, what’s the point of a ban?

And don’t forget the clubs.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster to make the clubbers head off the beach for a smoke, especially when there really shouldn’t be any kids that need protecting from passive smoking out at 2am.

And all this in a city that already has a 20mph speed limit that plenty break and for which there has been only one prosecution.

And any walk in the city past a pub garden or group gathering is likely to reveal the herbal whiff of weed.

This is a city that likes breaking rules but still has a nannyish zeal to make them nonetheless.

There’s a case for a smoke free area of the beach but a blanket ban would be wrong and it shouldn’t apply at times when kids aren’t about.

A smoking ban on the beach would hardly make a difference to the health of those people who use the beach.

It’s more of a political statement from the public health people and a gimmick to make them feel better.

And it’s all just a little bit po-faced and boring and that’s most un-Brightonian.

Brighton’s more about kiss-me-quick than health kick.

And they better be careful that word doesn’t get out that Brighton is full of uptight whingers because if they wanted that they could’ve gone to Bournemouth.

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