Delaware beach town considers outdoor smoking ban

Just on the heels of the New York City Council's decision to expand the smoking ban to parks and beaches, a Delaware beach town is considering creating a smoking ban of it's own, according to a recent article in Delmarva Now.

City officials in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, are considering creating an outdoor smoking ban. However, the bill is meeting opposition, due to the potential that it might impact tourism in the area.

The town, consistently highly ranked and recently named one of America's favorite beach towns by Forbes Traveler, is popular with tourists, raising concerns that smoking tourists my look elsewhere for summer-fun destinations.

"We're a destination, and as a destination you want to be as welcoming as you can," Carol Everhart, president and CEO of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce, told the source.

However, smoking seems to be a serious problem in the area, not just as a personal health concern, but environmentally as well. Out of all beaches on the state's coast, Rehoboth had the most cigarette litter, with about 7,100 butts, the state commissioner told the news source.

Though this ban may be problematic for visitors, it could attract those interested in moving to a smoke-free location. Some families may consider lower rates of secondhand smoke an added benefit to the already scenic location.  

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