Enjoy California’s smokefree parks and beaches
As Californians continue to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, lung health remains as important as ever. Smoke- and vape-free spaces are key to protecting your lungs and enjoying all California has to offer. Whether you’re exploring local communities or planning a road trip adventure, finding smokefree destinations with plenty of dining, shopping, and recreation experiences is easy. Visit California can help plan your itinerary once you’ve picked your spot.
Californians have some of the most beautiful natural landscapes on the planet, and it’s easy to enjoy the outdoors at a local park or beach year-round.
Many of these scenic places are protected from the dangers of toxic secondhand smoke and the harm of tobacco product pollution. Thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 81 in October 2019, smoking and vaping are prohibited in most areas of California state parks and beaches.
This bill expands existing state tobacco protections, which restrict smoking or vaping at playgrounds, tot-lot sandbox areas, and youth sporting events in public parks, to protect children from secondhand smoke and vape. Existing state law also restricts the disposal of cigarette butts or other tobacco waste within 25 feet of playgrounds or tot-lot sandbox areas.2
These are important laws for our communities for many reasons:
- There’s no such thing as safe secondhand smoke. All types of secondhand exposure are harmful to the lungs, including secondhand vape and marijuana.
- Tobacco waste, like cigarette butts, single-use vape cartridges, and disposable vapes, is primarily made of plastic and covered in toxic chemical residue.3 4
- Tobacco waste can be found almost everywhere. In fact, more cigarette butts are collected during beach litter cleanups than any other type of litter, including plastic straws!5
- Tobacco waste is left behind in parks and on beaches, posing a threat to children, wildlife, and the environment.6 7
Local leadership on creating smokefree spaces
California is building on the leadership of a growing number of cities and counties that have created smokefree outdoor spaces. Nearly 150 cities or communities have designated outdoor recreational spaces, parks or beaches, or both, as smokefree.8 9 10 Prohibiting the use of cigarettes and vapes in these places reduces secondhand exposure to harmful chemicals found in tobacco products.
Still working toward a smokefree future
Smoke- and vape-free spaces are key for protecting your lungs. If your local outdoor or recreation spaces aren’t smokefree, let your community leaders know you’re concerned. You can start by visiting SecondhandDangers.org for tips on how to address the issue.
Find out where your local smokefree parks and beaches are by visiting: [CALIFORNIA SMOKEFREE PARKS & BEACHES]
