Malta to Test Smoke-Free Beach Zones As PM Announces Pilot Project

Prime Minister Robert Abela, in his first public address since Alex Borg’s election as Nationalist Party leader, announced a new pilot initiative introducing extensive no-smoking zones on two Maltese beaches, one in Malta and one in Gozo.

Abela made the comments the morning after Alex Borg, 30, was officially confirmed as PN leader in a nail-biting race, winning 8,905 votes against Adrian Delia’s 8,861, a razor-thin margin of just 44 votes. Borg’s victory makes him the youngest-ever leader of a major political party in Malta.

The Prime Minister explained that smoking will only be permitted in strictly designated areas, with the rest of the beach areas becoming smoke-free. However, no timeline or specific beaches for the project have yet been identified.

This move follows a wider global trend: France will ban smoking on beaches, parks, and near schools starting July 1, while Spain, the UK, Sweden, and Finland have also introduced varying levels of outdoor smoking restrictions. In the U.S., New Jersey has banned smoking on all beaches while allowing limited designated smoking zones.

Abela also praised Tourism Minister Ian Borg for his efforts to manage overcrowding in Comino, particularly at the Blue Lagoon. In previous summers, the site saw up to 10,000 daily visitors, but measures introduced this year have already drastically reduced numbers, which Abela described as proof that sustainable management can deliver results.

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