Paul and Gaylord visited from Johnson City, Tennessee recently and noticed that people were throwing cigarette butts on the beach while walking in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Gaël Oudom advises against leaving cigarette butts in the sand and says that smoking is a "personal choice" for individuals. Oudom points to a row of beach chairs in the distance and adds, "If they want to smoke, they should do it like those people over there and stay away from others.
The beaches of Panama City are among several communities that may soon be affected by a new state law prohibiting smoking and vaping of e-cigarettes on locally controlled beaches and parks in the coming weeks and months.
The manager of Flagler Beach City, William Whitson, has stated that they plan to discuss this issue with their committee in the upcoming weeks. However, according to Flagler County Executive, Heidi Petito, the county committee has not yet engaged in such discussions, despite controlling approximately 12 out of the 18 miles of beach in the county.
Mark Shelton, the mayor of Panama City Beach, has stated that the city council is waiting for legal instructions regarding a proposed change. However, he believes that the proposal, which aims to limit litter and thus benefit the environment, is the right thing to do. The issue is expected to be discussed later this month.
Sheldon said, "We have already seen smoking bans in other areas, whether it be in restaurants or public spaces, and this is another public space.
In 2002, Florida voters approved an amendment that banned smoking in enclosed indoor workplaces, including most restaurants and bars.
Despite facing opposition, Sheldon stated that he has only heard from two people who are against the proposal of a beach smoking ban since it was submitted to the council a few weeks ago.
If someone rents a chair from a beach vendor and they are outdoors with their family, and someone else rents a chair next to them and starts smoking, you can't escape it. You're essentially trapped in that chair," Sheldon said. "That's your space, but smokers aren't just confined to those chairs. So, for them, we want to address quality of life issues.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new law in June, HB 105, which empowers cities and counties to ban smoking in the beaches and parks they own.
Before the measure was passed, sponsor of the Senate bill, Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), made a distinction between unfiltered cigars and cigarettes, stating that filtered cigarette butts do not biodegrade quickly.
According to Grootes, "If you live near the beach, the number one item you consistently pick up year after year is cigarette butts." For me, what's been happening repeatedly is second-hand smoke, which is unpleasant. But what's even more unpleasant is the fact that those cigarette filters eventually end up in the water, damaging the environment.
Other communities, such as Miami Beach and St. Petersburg, are also considering smoking bans in addition to Panama City Beach.
The Miami Beach Commissioner held a preliminary vote on a smoking ban on July 20th, with another vote expected. The proposal includes fines of up to $500 and imprisonment of up to 60 days, but the commissioners stated that they do not want anyone to go to jail for violating the ban.
Meanwhile, it is expected that the Saint Petersburg City Council will push forward a smoking ban this month. Lawyer Ben James, who represents the city, stated that the ordinance will prohibit smoking in all areas of public beaches and city parks, with violators facing fines of up to $500.
Some people may say, 'Oh, is this overreach?'" said Lisset Hanewicz, a council member of St. Petersburg, during a committee meeting last week. "You know, we're actually controlling indoor smoking. It's been happening for a long time. Florida was the first state to sue tobacco companies a long time ago...because we all bear the cost of health.
I hope that we can rely on non-profit partners who work with us on waste management to help spread information and truly act as a team to educate the public and ensure that this is viewed as a positive thing. This is truly about waste and good environmental management," said Deliskor at the meeting.
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