It’s a gesture that millions of vacationers do every summer in the water. However, a European country has banned it. This is a surprising rule that could cost you a fine…
Who has never given in to temptation? A pressing need, the sea or the ocean at your fingertips and all that was needed to discreetly relieve your natural needs in the middle of summer. This innocuous gesture, which we imagine tolerated by the majority or at least hardly objectionable, is nevertheless formally prohibited in a European country! It’s not a joke: urinating in the water, when you come to enjoy the beach, constitutes an offense for this very popular country in the hearts of tourists.
While most European countries have no specific rules regarding peeing in the sea or ocean among other swimmers, one country has decided to take the lead and legislate. The law is thus clear: the act of urinating in water is considered an infraction of public hygiene rules! But bathers are not necessarily aware that they are breaking the law…
However, in practice, can such a ban be implemented? It’s hard to imagine patrols watching each swimmer for a possible infraction… and fortunately! Fines for this type of offense are extremely rare, unless the vacationer wishing to relieve his needs is absolutely not discreet… But it is still preferable to avoid such behavior in order not to end up with a fine during his beach vacation.
But then what is this European country, known for its vast beaches, its wild nights and now for this surprising ban? According to data from the specialized travel account The World in Mapsit would be Portugal. However, The Portugal News has since denied this fake news at the beginning of July, explaining that it came from misleading comments made by an influencer on social networks: “the National Association of Municipalities (ANM) has confirmed that no law in Portugal prohibits urinating in Portuguese waters.” And the news site clarifies that the country which applies such sanctions is in reality… its neighbor, Spain!
Indeed, the site reports that two Spanish cities wanted to apply financial sanctions for bathers who pee in the water: Vigo (in Galicia) has been charging a hefty fine of 750 euros since 2022.to anyone who relieves themselves on the beach or in the sea” while popular Marbella finally backtracked last year after considering a fine of 700 euros.
