Ocean City officially smoke-free on the boardwalk with designated beach areas

No butts about it, Ocean City’s boardwalk and parts of the beach are smoke-free.

This means everything from cigarettes and cigars, to even e-cigarettes, are banned. Along the beach, there are a series of designated areas for exceptions.

“We believe this was the right direction for Ocean City,” says Mayor Rick Meehan.

The announcement on Friday, according to Mayor Meehan, comes after more than a year of planning within the town, including meetings with police and beach patrol, to simply talking with visitors on the boardwalk.

More importantly, the move comes after years of complaints and seeing the issues themselves.

“The second-hand smoke issue we do get complaints about that quite a bit and also the litter issue,” says Mayor Meehan.

“That’s an eyesore that can cause fires, that’s costly to clean up, and that is hazardous to the environment, to the waterways, to the animals,” says Dawn Berkowitz, Chief of Federal and Special Tobacco Control Initiatives with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The town hopes firstly, to make it educational. Police will give out a warning and distribute a card with more information on the new policy. However, the fine for those who do not listen, can be as high as $500.

Business owners who spoke with 47 ABC say they support the change but question how some of their customers will react, especially bar-goers.

“At first it’s going to be an inconvenience,” says Denver Kovach, a server at Tony’s Pizza on the boardwalk.

“Having to leave somewhere while they are drinking a lot of people drink and smoke at the same time, some people are going to get a little frustrated,” says Kendall Barnes, a server at Guidos Burritos on the boardwalk.

Officials say they do not expect an impact on businesses, and like most things, they anticipate visitors and residents alike will adapt.

“They’ll appreciate it,” says Barnes. “Us smokers, it’s just something we’ll have to deal with.”