Sex dolls and genital-themed costumes are forbidden in a Spanish tourist destination for bachelor and bachelorette celebrations.
Authorities in the coastal town of Platja d'Aro, Spain, have introduced fines for individuals who dare to go out in public wearing costumes depicting genitalia or carrying sex dolls. The town is located along the Costa Brava, about 60 miles northeast of Barcelona.
Individuals could face fines of up to $811 (€750) for "walking or standing on a street or public space without clothing, or only in underwear, or for wearing clothing or accessories that represent human genitals, or with dolls of a sexual nature," according to a city hall spokesperson. More severe fines of up to $1,620 (€1,500) may also be issued for more disruptive anti-social behavior, although the specific offenses are not yet clear.
The new measures also ban going shirtless or wearing only a bikini in urban areas away from the beach. These rules will go into effect later this month.
Platja d'Aro has a population of 12,500, but during summer weekends, the town can attract up to 150,000 visitors a day. The city council recently approved these new fines and plans to hire extra police to enforce them. Penalties will be issued, but offenders have the option to appeal and will not have to pay immediately.
At a press conference, the town's police chief cited a recent incident where a groom was taped to a lamp post while his friends played loud music and sang late into the night, causing disturbance to local residents.
"These types of activities are not exclusive to Platja d'Aro," said the spokesperson. "Each town should decide how to change this situation."
During the six-month peak tourist season, which includes spring and early summer, the town's 48-member police force will be supplemented with 12 additional officers. The visitors responsible for these disruptions hail from across Spain and other countries, according to the spokesperson, who added that Platja d'Aro's permanent residents come from 80 different nationalities.
The town's authorities are currently working with local hotel and restaurant owners to improve the coexistence between residents and tourists in the area.
Tourism protests are becoming more common in Spain. Demonstrators have threatened to shut down Mallorca airport to limit mass tourism, while measures have also been implemented to restrict public drinking and party boats in the Balearic Islands.
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Visitors planning a trip to Platja d'Aro might want to reconsider bringing sex dolls as a form of entertainment, given the town's recent ban. Moreover, individuals should be aware that public displays of genital-themed costumes are also prohibited, carrying hefty fines.
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