Popular La Paloma park in Benalmádena is declared a smoke-free zone

An agreement has been reached between the town hall and a Spanish cancer association to raise awareness of the risk of smoking

Marina Rivas

Benalmádena

Friday, 17 March 2023 | Updated 18/03/2023 21:50h.

The council in Benalmádena has strengthened ties with leading Spanish cancer charity AECC as one of its best-known attractions has been declared a 'smoke-free space'. This is the Parque de la Paloma, opened in 1995 and considered the green lung of the town thanks to its 200,000 square metres of greenery, together with an artificial lake and even animals.

Town mayor, Víctor Navas, said, "We are the first large town on the Costa del Sol to have a tobacco-free zone."

There is a sign on each entrance gate to the park, but it is only there to raise awareness of the risks of smoking and that 80 per cent of lung tumours are directly related to tobacco use, as the measure cannot legally be enforced.

Passive smoking

The AECC has reminded users how harmful passive smoke inhalation by people or even children can be. Tobacco smoke increases the chances in minors who are regularly exposed to it of ear infections by half, asthma attacks by 20%, respiratory infections by 30%. It also doubles the risk of having lung cancer in the future.

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