Spanish town cracks down on risqué party antics with hefty fines

Coastal towns in Spain attract many tourists during the spring and summer seasons. A significant group includes people who organize various parties there, with a specific group participating in bachelor and bachelorette parties.

One such place is the town of Platja d’Aro on the Costa Brava coast, whose authorities have decided to introduce new restrictions due to tourist behaviour. The goal of these changes is to protect public decency.

According to CNN, citing a statement from a local town hall spokesperson, the authorities in Platja d’Aro have decided to introduce fines for anyone parading in public in a costume depicting genitalia. The ban also applies to people carrying sex dolls. The new regulations also prohibit walking without a shirt or in just a bikini away from the beach and will likely come into effect around late June.

The fine for breaking these restrictions is approximately CAD 1,100 or 750 euros. Even higher fees – about CAD 2,200 or 1,500 euros – may be imposed for antisocial behaviours that most disrupt order. However, these situations were not specified, although they relate to behaviours associated with bachelor and bachelorette parties organized in the town.

CNN quoted the spokesperson as saying a story about a press conference during one such party. The groom-to-be was glued to a lamppost, and his friends partied to loud music until late hours, disturbing the residents.

"Such situations happen not only in Platja d’Aro. However, each city should decide how to change it," the spokesperson summarized. The city authorities also plan to hire additional officers to maintain order during the peak tourist season.

Platja d’Aro has 12,500 residents, but on summer weekends, it hosts up to 150,000 guests.