Should S. Bethany ban smoking, drinking on its beaches?

Following a number of coastal towns, South Bethany wants to know if its residents want smoking banned on its beaches.

On a survey meant to help the town council devise its comprehensive plan for the town, homeowners will be asked if they want restrictions on beach smoking.

In addition, the survey will ask if residents want a ban on alcohol enforced on the town’s beaches. According to councilman George Junkin, South Bethany only prohibits glass bottles on its beaches, more a safety precaution than one to prevent consumption.

A number of towns along the peninsula’s coast have banned smoking both on their beaches and on their boardwalks since 2008. The most recent ban came from Lewes, who voted in December to keep cigarettes off its beaches.

Council unanimously approved the survey at Friday’s meeting. Mayor Pat Voveris said the survey could be sent out as early as next week.

Overall, the survey is meant to gauge homeowners’ opinions on a number of topics so the town can use those opinions to better formulate its comprehensive plan moving forward. Questions about infrastructure and performance of the various public departments will also be included.

The town is the last along Sussex County’s coast to approach the topic of banning smoking.

When South Bethany first discussed posing the question to homeowners in 2014, Voveris, a nonsmoker, said she had not heard from residents of smoking on the beach being a major issue.

pdavis3@dmg.gannett.com

410-877-4221

@DT_PhilDavis