Spain holiday warning as Brits jetting abroad could be fined £1,200 for taking a NAP in the wrong spot
BOOZY Brits who think they can sleep off their hangovers on the beach have been warned they face four-figure fines.
A stern alert to UK holiday-makers has been issued by seaside resort chiefs in Spain.
Rules imposed along the coast in one of the Mediterranean‘s most popular destinations aim to crack down on drunks, including British tourists.
Night-time naps on the shore will be taken seriously by police patrolling the beaches, it has been revealed.
Newly-published official guidance for anyone heading to Spain this summer warns: “For those who like to drink to excess and then sleep it off on the beach, think again.
“In many regions, spending the night sleeping on the beach or camping on the beach is completely forbidden and in areas such as Valencia could result in a fine of up to €1,500.”
At current exchange rates, that translates to £1,290.
The warning comes in Health Plan Spain guidance for what tourists can and can’t do on Spanish beaches, put together by expert expats living there.
They point out how authorities can enforce specific laws and fines – urging vigilance on visitors depending on where you’re landing.
Other potential fines include £650 for using soap and shampoo when showering on beaches at resorts such as Benidorm, Malaga and Valencia again.
Valencia, on Spain’s eastern coast, is renowned as the birthplace of the paella while its top-flight La Liga football club has had managers include ex-Liverpool and Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez and former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville.
Going nude on a Spanish beach where it’s not allowed – let alone encouraged as it is at some – could hit you in the pocket for £650.
There are £260 fines for throwing cigarette butts, littering or leaving sunflower and other nut shells on the beach.
Loud music equipment and instruments can be penalised to the tune of £775 – while some towns including Salobreña will make you hand over almost £2,600 if caught with a beachside barbecue.
Resorts which have been declared smoke-free include Andalusia, Asturias, the Balearics, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Galicia and Murcia.
Visiting Brits were previously told they face fines in Spain if caught driving topless.
Officials in Majorca and Ibiza have launched campaigns against booze-fuelled chaos and drunken behaviour – imposing a six-drink-a-day limit instead of having alcohol on tap.
Popular hotspots in Catalonia include Spain’s second city Barcelona, while the Canary Islands boast Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife.
A series of Spain’s popular destinations have recently introduced tourist taxes to bolster their finances.
Local councils in the Valencia region have been given the go-ahead to apply a charge of up to €2 (£1.75) per person per night.
Popular resorts like Benidorm and the Costa Blanca could be affected – while Barcelona increased its tourist tax price this year and has plans for a further rise next year.
Other cities could soon follow suit, with the capital Madrid considering a tourist tax of its own.
The latest alerts come as beaches at popular Brit holiday hotspot Gibraltar were closed after an oil spill from a tanker.
Beachgoers have also been warned to stay out of the water at a resort due to high pollution, while earlier this week four Spanish beaches were closed due to a “mystery substance”.
Elsewhere in Spain, a red weather alert was activated for parts of the Costa del Sol with temperatures rocketing to 42C.
Sweltering weather has swept across southern Europe in recent weeks and wildfires erupted in the Spanish island of La Palma in July.