No Sex, no alcohol, no cigarettes, Spain imposes new beach rules
posted July 21, 2009 - 5:57pm
Northern European and British tourists arriving on the Spanish Costas this summer can rest assured that the weather will be hot, the sangria will flow and siestas are still commonplace.
However, as they leave behind strict health
and safety laws at home, the laid-back Spanish beach lifestyle is under threat according to a Times-online report.
Spain has finally succumbed to EU standards and introduced new stringent laws to help eradicate unacceptable beach behavior in an attempt to encourage tourists back to the Costas.
Holiday resorts across the country have introduced a raft of rules and regulations designed to clean-up the coast line. Banned beach activity now extends to listening to music without headphones, barbequing without police approval, walking your dog and even erecting sunshades early in the morning in order to mark your spot.
Lighting up your barbecue on the beach in Salobrena on the Costa Tropical, now requires police permission that must be gained one week in advance — and carries a 70 euro deposit to cover any damages. Those who refuse to follow the rules take an expensive gamble and hope they won’t be issued with the maximum fine of 3,000 euro. Similar regulations have been imposed in the popular holiday resort of Almunecar on the Costa del Sol.
In Valencia, the Ayuntamiento (city council) is enforcing new laws which bans pets on the beach, playing music without headphones or putting up sunshades. Enjoying a glass of wine in the wrong place at the wrong time could mean a heavy fine as the consumption of alcohol is now restricted to certified areas only.
Lourdes Bernal, of Valencia council, insisted that the new rules and regulations are not intended to spoil the pleasure of enjoying a day out on the beach. “We are not going to fine people for having a beer,” she said.
In L’Escala, on the Costa Brava, the authorities have banned smoking on the beach. If police catch you lighting up they will issue you with a police warning.
In neighboring Tossa del Mar, councilors have introduced fines for having sex on the beach, which has provoked a demonstration by locals protesting against the newly introduced restrictions. Some local buildings now show graffiti which says in English ‘Sex on the beach’.
Benidorm, once a quaint small fishing village was the first Spanish destination to ignite the Brits love affair with Spain and its economy is still heavily reliant on UK visitors today. The Ayuntamiento is eager to eradicate it's 'kiss-me-quick' image by closing the beach between midnight and 7 a.m. Anyone found partying or having sex could face a 750 euro fine. Hoteliers in the area have generally welcomed the change and believe that the laws will help improve the quality of the area and justify the higher cost of holidaying in the region.
The Alicante Nudist Association, Osiris, told 20 minutos newspaper, “the new by-laws in the city are ridiculous.” The law means that those who remove their bathing costume on the beaches of the city face a fine of between 750 and 1500 euros. The nudists are protesting on grounds of discrimination and say that fines should be imposed on those who remain clothed on local nudist beaches and restaurants.
Gustavo Aybar, the head of beaches, said in a Times online report the purpose of the regulations, which were introduced last month, was to ensure the “proper management of the coast”.
Charles Svoboda, of the campaign group No to Urban Abuses, said:
Spain has finally succumbed to EU standards and introduced new stringent laws to help eradicate unacceptable beach behavior in an attempt to encourage tourists back to the Costas.
Holiday resorts across the country have introduced a raft of rules and regulations designed to clean-up the coast line. Banned beach activity now extends to listening to music without headphones, barbequing without police approval, walking your dog and even erecting sunshades early in the morning in order to mark your spot.
Lighting up your barbecue on the beach in Salobrena on the Costa Tropical, now requires police permission that must be gained one week in advance — and carries a 70 euro deposit to cover any damages. Those who refuse to follow the rules take an expensive gamble and hope they won’t be issued with the maximum fine of 3,000 euro. Similar regulations have been imposed in the popular holiday resort of Almunecar on the Costa del Sol.
In Valencia, the Ayuntamiento (city council) is enforcing new laws which bans pets on the beach, playing music without headphones or putting up sunshades. Enjoying a glass of wine in the wrong place at the wrong time could mean a heavy fine as the consumption of alcohol is now restricted to certified areas only.
Lourdes Bernal, of Valencia council, insisted that the new rules and regulations are not intended to spoil the pleasure of enjoying a day out on the beach. “We are not going to fine people for having a beer,” she said.
In L’Escala, on the Costa Brava, the authorities have banned smoking on the beach. If police catch you lighting up they will issue you with a police warning.
In neighboring Tossa del Mar, councilors have introduced fines for having sex on the beach, which has provoked a demonstration by locals protesting against the newly introduced restrictions. Some local buildings now show graffiti which says in English ‘Sex on the beach’.
Benidorm, once a quaint small fishing village was the first Spanish destination to ignite the Brits love affair with Spain and its economy is still heavily reliant on UK visitors today. The Ayuntamiento is eager to eradicate it's 'kiss-me-quick' image by closing the beach between midnight and 7 a.m. Anyone found partying or having sex could face a 750 euro fine. Hoteliers in the area have generally welcomed the change and believe that the laws will help improve the quality of the area and justify the higher cost of holidaying in the region.
The Alicante Nudist Association, Osiris, told 20 minutos newspaper, “the new by-laws in the city are ridiculous.” The law means that those who remove their bathing costume on the beaches of the city face a fine of between 750 and 1500 euros. The nudists are protesting on grounds of discrimination and say that fines should be imposed on those who remain clothed on local nudist beaches and restaurants.
Gustavo Aybar, the head of beaches, said in a Times online report the purpose of the regulations, which were introduced last month, was to ensure the “proper management of the coast”.
Charles Svoboda, of the campaign group No to Urban Abuses, said:
“This country has gone from having no rules to introducing all these rules — perhaps to raise money for councils during a recession. But they will enforce it in one place and not in another.”
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Comments
I can't imagine?
Here in the US, I can't imagine the authorities ever allowing sex on the beach, or public nudity, unless of course it's a designated nudist beach which are few and far between! No wonder the US tourists stay far away! I can't imagine the locals putting up with it either, and instead they are lobbying for it! No one has any shame, I guess!
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