Ban Of The Week

It might seem a drop in the ocean but having a pee in the sea off Vigo, the Galician seaside resort in northern Spain, could land you in hot water.

The council have just passed a byelaw that explicitly states that anyone caught urinating “in the sea or on the beach” could be subject to a fine of up to €750, declaring the practice to be a hygiene and sanitary risk as well as having the potential to affect the local wildlife. Vigo joins Portugal and parts of Thailand in banning the practice.

The Vigan council are installing more public toilets to meet demand during the peak tourist season but are remaining tight-lipped as to how they propose to impose the ban, leading some to speculate that it is more froth than substance.