In the upcoming vacation period in the bathing areas, the Tricity will apply a strict rule: before entering the water each beacher will gotta undergo sobriety control utilizing a breathalyst. This is just 1 of the many changes that await those who arrive at the beach.
The fresh bathing regulations aim to guarantee greater safety for beachers, as well as awareness of the dangers of drinking baths. Local hotel managers made this decision in consequence to an increase in the number of rescuers' interventions, despite their expanding number each year.
Sobriety Control before bath: fresh regulation on Tricity beaches
According to the local portal Trojmiasto.pl, bathing sites guarded in Tricity will have fresh rules regarding the entrance to water. Anyone who wants to usage the beach bath will gotta undergo a sobriety test. If alcohol is found, beachers will not be allowed to enter the water.
“People frequently don’t realize how much alcohol they can have in their blood after eating even a tiny amount of drink. We hope that the control of the breathalyst will make them aware that a bath in the Baltic is besides advanced a hazard under the influence of alcohol," said 1 of the coordinators of the urban bathing sites.
The fresh rules will apply to all bathing areas guarded in Tricity, which this year will open their gates to beachmakers. There are plans to launch 20 specified places – 9 in Gdańsk, 7 in Sopot and 4 in Gdynia.
Emergency action at its own expense and expanding the number of patrols of the cityguard
The water rescuers realize that sobriety control of all beachers is impossible, so an additional provision was introduced for bathing regulations. Persons who have been diagnosed with alcohol during a rescue intervention will be charged with the cost of rescue action.
The city authorities have besides decided to increase the number of patrols on the bathing grounds. Officers will monitor beachgoers for alcohol consumption outside designated zones.
Thanks to a peculiar subsidy from the State Alcohol Troubleshooting Agency, the three-city municipalities will be able to finance additional patrols of the cityguard and rescue operations in bathing areas.
The amendments aim to reduce the number of drownings
New measures are intended to counter the increasing number of drownings, which are noted on Polish beaches. According to authoritative police data, only in 2023 there were 192 deaths across the country, an increase compared to erstwhile years.
Most cases of drowning were recorded in Pomeranian, Wielkopolska, Lesser Poland and West Pomeranian voivodships. Police point out that as many as 34 of these cases were related to alcohol.
Ignacy Michałowski
OSINT investigator with experience in global journalism projects. It has been publishing materials for over 20 years for the largest releases. In social activities he engaged in various projects and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of people, especially those of mediocre communities. He was besides active in the fight for human rights. Contact: [email protected]
