Just a drop in the ocean, but now a little at sea will cost you £ 650

The carefree days when a parent could send a child with a ruptured bladder to the sea to relieve themselves ended in a Spanish coastal town.

The Vigo Council, in the Galicia region, declared the use of the open space for toilets as a violation, leading to a fine of up to 750 euros (650 British pounds).

Vigo’s updated beach rules for this summer season state that “physiological evacuation at sea or on the beach” will be considered a violation of health and hygiene laws for anyone caught in the act – something that could be difficult in the Atlantic of the city.

Instead, city officials plan to install public toilets on the beaches during the high season to meet demand.

The city council explained that the rule was part of an initiative to clean up local beaches, saying more gates would be installed in areas where there are currently no toilets.

Vigo’s beach rules also include fines for practices such as using soap in beach water or in washing facilities, such as showers or foot baths, throwing rubbish of any kind on the sand, or using grates, gas cylinders or other hazards. fire.

But there is skepticism about whether the northwestern Spanish city will be able to impose a ban on people using the sea to relieve themselves.

“How easy it is to ban and how difficult it is to enforce it,” said Twitter user Pedro L. Sierra.

Spanish seaside resorts introduce new bans in regulations every summer aimed at improving the collective experience.

Ban on bare breasts in some parts of the country

In 2014, Torrox became the first in a series of Costa del Sol resorts to ban the practice of leaving towels and umbrellas on the beach to pack in good condition, with four police patrolling and seizing items unattended.

This year, Spain is pushing beachgoers who fail to take off their bikinis or swimsuits while walking down the street. Being bare-breasted is also banned in some parts of the country.

“Some local councils will impose fines if you are caught wearing a swimsuit on the promenade or adjacent streets,” said the British government’s travel council.