Brits travelling to Spain could face a £2,500 fine under strict new beach rules

Brits travelling to Spain could face a £2,500 fine under strict new beach rules
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Anna Fox

By Anna Fox


Published: 08/07/2022

- 14:08

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:51

Tourists face a hefty fine if they disregard new rules designed to keep beaches clean

British tourists could be slapped with a hefty fine if they fail to conform with new beach rules, which are implemented and governed by individual regions.

From this Friday tourists are prohibited from smoking cigarettes on the beach in Barcelona.


A similar ban on smoking is already in place in other Spanish regions such as Majorca, with £25 fines being issued to anyone caught in the act.

The ban was enforced following a long battle to halt amassing litter on beaches, with cigarette butts proving particularly bad for natural environments.

Platja Nova Icarie beach in Barcelona
Platja Nova Icarie beach in Barcelona
Owen Humphreys

Lighting a cigarette on a Barcelona beach would see you slapped with a fine
Lighting a cigarette on a Barcelona beach would see you slapped with a fine
Jonathan Brady

It is illegal to wash with soap and shampoo at beach showers across Spain, due to the destruction it causes to surrounding wildlife.

In areas, including Malaga and Benidorm, bathing in the sea with soap is prohibited and punishable by a fine.

The fine for using products in the beach showers is around £642, according to Health Plan Spain.

A new controversial law implemented in Vigo earlier this year, caused a stir, when the local authorities announced holidaymakers would be fined for urinating in the sea.

The highly debated new rule is designed to clean up Vigo's beaches, with perpetrator's fine 750 euros (£642).

It hasn't been detailed on how the city intends to catch those responsible, or if other Spanish cities will choose to implement the fine.

Brit's are advised to check the rules before brandishing a barbecue at some Spanish beaches, with police approval often needed to permit a fiery feast.

Beachgoers in Granada will be fined £2,500 for lighting a barbecue or any kind of a fire on a beach.

The rule was enforced as officials believe barbecues pose a threat to cause larger fires, leading to a potential environmental disaster.

A young girl recently sustained severe burns when visiting a Welsh beach, after she stepped on a buried barbecue.

Curfew's have also been implemented in popular tourist hotpots across Spain, with visitors to Benidorm banned from the beach between 11pm and 7am.

The ban is designed to prevent tragic accidents and to keep drunk and disorderly tourists away from the sea.

Selected restaurants across the Balearic Island of Majorca, have also banned tourists from sporting football shirts, turning them away at the door.

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