Planning for a trip to Panama Beach in Florida soon? How about we bring you to speed with the new measures that are being considered for this tourist site to aid you in effectively planning for your travel?
For the longest time, Panama Beach has been a bedrock of fun and freedom. However, freedom without limits is undeniably dangerous and for this reason, the Panama Beach Council is considering to ban vaping and cigarette at various spots within the Panama Beach.
The Council has specifically alluded to banning smoking and vaping in City Parks, Public Beaches and along the sandy beach within 400 feet of the Russell Fields Pier. The consideration is likely to be approved based on the Florida House Bill 105 which allows local government to ban cigarette smoking and vaping at beaches and parks exempting unfiltered cigars.
The bill was passed by the House in February and by the Senate in March before it was signed by Gov. Ron Desantis on June 24 and became law on 1st July 2022. The rule allows cigarette smoking only at certain special events, smoking sites that are designated by the city manager and from within a certain means or mode of transport like the car.
Back to the Panama Beach Council considerations, it is necessary to note that the first reading of the proposals was presented before the house. Fortunately for non-smokers the billed passed with a score of 3-2. Primarily, Jarman, Mayor Sheldon and Councilman Paul Castro were in favor of the ban, while council members Phil Chester and Mary Coburn were not. This is however not a final decision as the second reading to determine whether the vaping and smoking in certain areas of the Panama Beach will prevail, will occur at the City Council meeting on November 10th 2022.
From the above information, one would ask why go ahead and ask for approval to ban the smoking in various places and allow it to be done in others yet the beach is considered a public space for everyone. Well, cigarette butts are a pervasive, long lasting and contain toxic form of marine debris. Therefore, if they are allowed to be consumed in public, they will cause pollution which is risky and unhealthy especially if it is taken in the presence of children who are also allowed access to the beach. Officials also note that cigarette butts are extremely difficult if not impossible to remove from the sandy beach.
There is no doubt that humans have an entitlement to their freedom. How mankind chooses to enjoy this freedom bestowed upon them should however not be against the rule of law or interfere with the health of others. This therefore means that whether the proposed bill becomes approved or not, the society should remember that smoking and vaping have detrimental effects on our bodies and smoking in public areas puts the life of non-smokers at a greater risk especially the lives of children who also enjoy the goodness of the beaches.
