A popular Portuguese holiday resort has greenlit massive fines for boozed-up Brits getting naked and having sex in public as it clamps down on misbehaviour. Albufeira, a coastal city in the country’s southern Algarve region, is known for its sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife.
But in recent times, the resort town has been beset with drunk, half-naked or fully naked revellers causing havoc, and its new set of financial penalties gives some insight into the kinds of behaviour authorities are looking to stamp out. Under the Code of Conduct, which is expected to come into effect next month, tourists caught walking around in the nude in public, as well as having or simulating sex in the streets, will face stinging fines ranging between £1,685 and £3,375.
Those caught spitting or urinating in the street will be hit with a levy of between £125 and £630.
People entering bars and other businesses without a top on could also face a whopping £1,250 penalty, with authorities tackling people wearing beachwear outside of permitted areas, The Mirror reports.
Bars and cafes that allow punters in without adhering to the dress code could also be subject to financial punishments.
Albufeira mayor Jose Carlos Rolo, who unveiled plans for the new rules in February, has signalled a desire to improve the city’s reputation and encourage families, said to have been put off by the tales of debauchery, to return.
Mr Rolo told the local press that holidaymakers “who fall down drunk aren’t needed here at all”.
He said plans tackle the problem will involve a combination of “dissuasive measures”, marketing and discussions with UK diplomats.
Various local hospitality business associations were involved in the drafting of the Code of Conduct, which only one of Albufeira’s 25 coincillors, Leonardo Paco, opposing it.
Mr Paco claimed national legislation already covered the infractions identified in the code.
Others have questioned whether police will be willing to enforce the more draconian elements of it. With its new stance, Albufeira joins a number of European cities with similar laws, including Nice, Dubrovnik, and Barcelona, which has seen large scale anti tourism protests in recent months, as per BBC News.