ONE destination in France is cracking down on drinking in public spaces – including its pretty beaches.
Anyone seen opening a beer late in the evening after the bars have closed could be in a lot of trouble.
The municipality of Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the Basque coast in France is stopping locals and visitors from drinking in public spaces.
This includes its beaches like Grande Plage, Plage d’Erromardie and Plage de Lafitenia.
Anyone found breaking these rules could be fined up to €150 (£127).
Talking to local media, Sébastien Larroche from the municipal police and parking department said there have been problems with large gatherings during the evening.
He said: “On the Grande Plage and the beaches in particular, alcohol consumption is prohibited because we had large gatherings of young people in the evening.
“We introduced this to try to counter this phenomenon of gatherings on the beaches and also the alcohol consumption of young people.”
He added that the problems happened mostly at night or after the local bars closed.
The rules do have a little flexibility though. For example those enjoying a glass of rosé with a picnic during the day shouldn’t be penalised.
This will be at the discretion of officials though, as Sébastien Larroche explained, “distinction is made by the agents in the field.”
Other seaside spots across the country have put similar rules in place like La Baule-Escoublac in western France where drinking alcohol on beaches is prohibited.
Other places like La Grande-Motte and Agde have seasonal restrictions – so check local rules before opening a bottle by the sea this summer.
It’s not the first time there have been alcohol bans in France.
Temporary rules were implemented across the country in late June to stop people drinking at certain places during the heatwave.
The ban was at organised events and public spaces to protect locals from the extreme heat.