Holidaymakers jetting off to popular Spanish destinations may find themselves in a spot of bother if they decide to dress down too much.
Newly implemented rules in Spain could see tourists facing hefty fines if they choose to wear bikinis and swimsuits anywhere other than poolside, with even stricter regulations for excited stag and hen parties.
Platja d’Aro, a favourite hotspot for tourists during the summer season, has declared it is clamping down on “clothing representing human genitals”, with Mayor Maurici Jimenez expressing his desire to ban stag and hen dos outright if possible.
Rule-breakers could be hit with penalties of up to €1,500 (£1,257). The Mayor unveiled this crackdown back in May, stating that bachelor and bachelorette parties often “exceed” social behaviour norms, necessitating the imposition of rules.
This isn’t the first Spanish town to introduce measures targeting stag and hen dos. Similar restrictions have already been put into effect in Tossa De Mar and Lloret de Mar, both located in Costa Brava, as well as in southern Spanish cities like Sevilla, Malaga, and Granada, reports the Mirror.
In 2022, Malaga prohibited inflatable sex dolls as part of a clampdown on stag and hen nights following a reported increase in anti-social behaviour associated with these types of parties.
Even if holidaymakers are not partaking in raucous parties, they can still face fines for inappropriate attire in places like Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera of up to £500 if they go topless or wear swimwear anywhere other than the pool or beach.
In addition to maintaining decency, there are also alcohol restrictions in some parts of the Balearics to prevent tourists from becoming drunk and disorderly.
Happy hours and open bar deals are prohibited in bars in certain areas, while authorities have also limited the sale of alcohol from vending machines, self-service alcohol dispensers, the organisation of pub-crawls and party boat trips, as well as ‘off-licence’ sales between 9:30pm and 8am.