Mashpee Residents to Decide on Beach Smoking Ban

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MASHPEE – Town Meeting voters this spring will decide if smoking will be banned on town beaches.

The Mashpee Recreation Department has filed an article that would update a current bylaw that restricts alcohol use to include smoking.

“We’re defining it as anything that’s lit and is meant to be inhaled and combusts and that would include cigarettes, cigars, pipes and e-cigarettes,” said Mary Bradbury, the director of the town’s recreation department.

Although it was been allowed, Mashpee has been discouraging smoking on its beaches.

“We’ve encouraged people not to smoke on our beaches because we want everyone on the beaches, including young families, to enjoy their beach going experience and to address the litter issue,” Bradbury said.

If passed, the smoking ban would be enforced by beach staff in a non-confrontational manner, according to Bradbury.

Orleans is also discussing a possible smoking ban at beaches.

Other towns that have banned smoking at beaches include Barnstable, Dennis and Falmouth. The Cape Cod National Seashore has banned smoking on all of its beaches.

Town meeting in Mashpee is May 2.