A popular holiday destination in Spain is cracking down on tourists displaying inappropriate behaviour on its streets.
The government in the Costa del Sol, in southern Spain, has announced it has issued a ban on "nudism, underwear, blow-up dolls or penis headbands". If anyone is caught on the streets doing or possessing any of these things, they'll be hit with a hefty fine.
It's part of an effort to reduce the impact on the region that's caused by excessive partying, as thousands of British tourists descend on the area every year to celebrate things like stag and hen dos.
The Express reports that Malaga already had strict rules in place, including fines for using megaphones or general disruptive behaviour and drinking on the streets.
Some pubs and clubs in the city already have a total ban on stag or hen parties and anyone celebrating the occasion is not allowed in certain venues.
This year, tourists who travel to the south of Spain for a stag or hen party and are dressed inappropriately will be fined 750 euros or £668.
This will be issued to anyone who shows their underwear, carries an inflatable doll or has a sexual object with them.
The new rule has already been approved to come into force this year. It states that: "except for municipal authorisation for specific places, it is prohibited to travel or remain on the road or public spaces without clothes or only in underwear".
The same applies to people "with clothes or accessories that represent the genitals of the human being or with dolls as or elements of a sexual nature".
The city council explained: "The agents of the authority will inform, first of all, the people involved regarding the existence of the prohibition contemplated in this ordinance."
They added that "only if the impermissible attitude persists, will proceed to formulate the pertinent complaint".
"Once the aforementioned conduct has been warned and regardless of the sanctions that could be imposed, the agents of the authority may request the cessation of the conduct that violates the prohibition contained in article 36."
So if you're planning on heading to the south of Spain anytime soon, it's best to keep any inflatable dolls or sex toys out of your case.
In a statement, Malaga City Council said that the goal is to "put a stop to some uncivil behaviour that may disturb coexistence among residents".
"The proliferation in recent years of certain behaviours associated with nudism, the use of underwear or erotic content in public spaces advises giving the municipality a new regulation," they added
"The ultimate goal is to preserve public space as a place for meeting, coexistence and civility, in which all people can freely carry out their activities of free movement, leisure and recreation, with full respect for others and for the plurality of expression."
Popular cities such as Malaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella and San Pedro de Alcántara are all in Costa del Sol.
Full list of affected cities:
- Malaga
- TorremolinosBenalmádena
- Fuengirola
- Mijas
- Marbella
- San Pedro de Alcántara
- Estepona
- Manilva
- Casares
- Rincón de la Victoria
- Vélez-Málaga
- Nerja
- Frigiliana
- Torrox
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