Thailand is to ban smoking on some of the country’s most popular tourist beaches, with the prospect of up to a year in prison for those caught lighting up, according to reports by local media.

據當地媒體報道，泰國將在該國一些最有名的旅游海灘禁煙。違禁者將面臨1年監禁。

The move follows a recent survey of litter on Patong beach, Phuket – visited by millions of foreign tourists each year – which found an average of 0.76 cigarette butts per square metre in a sample area, which would amount to 101,058 butts on the 2.5km-long stretch of sand.

禁令出臺前，一項針對普吉島巴東海灘的最新調查顯示，抽樣海灘上每平方米平均有0.76個煙蒂。照此計算，在2.5公里長的海灘上總共有101058個煙蒂。每年有數百萬外國游客到訪普吉島。

The survey was undertaken by the country’s department of marine and coastal resources, which described it as a “serious problem”. Discarded cigarette butts accounted for a third of rubbish collected by the department.

開展此項調查的泰國海洋與海岸資源廳表示，這是個“嚴重問題”。被丟棄的煙蒂占到該部門收集的海灘垃圾的三分之一。

“Cigarettes have a direct effect on the natural environment,” director general Jatuporn Buruspat told the Phuket Gazette.

廳長Jatuporn Buruspat告訴《普吉島報》說：“香煙對自然環境有直接影響?！?/p>

“The butts clog the drains contributing to floods. When the cigarettes stay under the beach sand for a long time, it also negatively affects the eco system. And then when the chemicals from the cigarette butts reach the water, it also releases cadmium, lead, arsenic and some acid from insecticide which are poison to the natural food chain.”

他說：“這些煙蒂在排水溝中淤積，會導致洪水。煙頭被埋在沙灘下許久，還會對生態系統造成負面影響。煙蒂還會將鎘、鉛、砷、以及殺蟲劑中的酸類物質等化學物質釋放到海水中，毒害天然食物鏈?！?/p>

The ban, which will come into play in November, will affect 20 beaches including Patong, Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nai (Phuket); Hua Hin, Cha-Am, Khao Takiab; Pattaya, Jomtien, Bangsaen and Samila.

該項禁令將于今年11月開始實施，范圍包括巴東海灘、蛋島、普吉島、華欣海灘、七巖海灘、筷子山、芭提雅海灘、中天海灘、邦盛海灘和薩米拉海灘等20處海灘。

After a trial period, the ban is expected to be enforced on all Thai beaches, as well as on passenger and tourist boats, to tackle the problem of butts damaging the underwater environment.

在試行期后，泰國所有海灘、客船和觀光船都將實行這項禁令，以應對煙蒂破壞水下環境的難題。

Anyone found to be breaking the law will face one year in jail or a maximum 100,000 baht fine, or both.

違禁者將面臨一年監禁或最高10萬泰銖（約合2萬元人民幣）罰款，或者兩刑并罰。

The Bangkok Post also reported the news, adding that Thailand has the sixth most rubbish-strewn areas of sea in the world.

《曼谷郵報》也報道了這則資訊，并表示，泰國在世界垃圾污染最嚴重的海域中排名第六。

Thailand is to ban smoking on some of the country’s most popular tourist beaches, with the prospect of up to a year in prison for those caught lighting up, according to reports by local media.

據當地媒體報道，泰國將在該國一些最有名的旅游海灘禁煙。違禁者將面臨1年監禁。

The move follows a recent survey of litter on Patong beach, Phuket – visited by millions of foreign tourists each year – which found an average of 0.76 cigarette butts per square metre in a sample area, which would amount to 101,058 butts on the 2.5km-long stretch of sand.

禁令出臺前，一項針對普吉島巴東海灘的最新調查顯示，抽樣海灘上每平方米平均有0.76個煙蒂。照此計算，在2.5公里長的海灘上總共有101058個煙蒂。每年有數百萬外國游客到訪普吉島。

The survey was undertaken by the country’s department of marine and coastal resources, which described it as a “serious problem”. Discarded cigarette butts accounted for a third of rubbish collected by the department.

開展此項調查的泰國海洋與海岸資源廳表示，這是個“嚴重問題”。被丟棄的煙蒂占到該部門收集的海灘垃圾的三分之一。

“Cigarettes have a direct effect on the natural environment,” director general Jatuporn Buruspat told the Phuket Gazette.

廳長Jatuporn Buruspat告訴《普吉島報》說：“香煙對自然環境有直接影響。”

“The butts clog the drains contributing to floods. When the cigarettes stay under the beach sand for a long time, it also negatively affects the eco system. And then when the chemicals from the cigarette butts reach the water, it also releases cadmium, lead, arsenic and some acid from insecticide which are poison to the natural food chain.”

他說：“這些煙蒂在排水溝中淤積，會導致洪水。煙頭被埋在沙灘下許久，還會對生態系統造成負面影響。煙蒂還會將鎘、鉛、砷、以及殺蟲劑中的酸類物質等化學物質釋放到海水中，毒害天然食物鏈?！?/p>

The ban, which will come into play in November, will affect 20 beaches including Patong, Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nai (Phuket); Hua Hin, Cha-Am, Khao Takiab; Pattaya, Jomtien, Bangsaen and Samila.

該項禁令將于今年11月開始實施，范圍包括巴東海灘、蛋島、普吉島、華欣海灘、七巖海灘、筷子山、芭提雅海灘、中天海灘、邦盛海灘和薩米拉海灘等20處海灘。

After a trial period, the ban is expected to be enforced on all Thai beaches, as well as on passenger and tourist boats, to tackle the problem of butts damaging the underwater environment.

在試行期后，泰國所有海灘、客船和觀光船都將實行這項禁令，以應對煙蒂破壞水下環境的難題。

Anyone found to be breaking the law will face one year in jail or a maximum 100,000 baht fine, or both.

違禁者將面臨一年監禁或最高10萬泰銖（約合2萬元人民幣）罰款，或者兩刑并罰。

The Bangkok Post also reported the news, adding that Thailand has the sixth most rubbish-strewn areas of sea in the world.

《曼谷郵報》也報道了這則資訊，并表示，泰國在世界垃圾污染最嚴重的海域中排名第六。