Albufeira’s new Code of Conduct is under public consultation
In a bid to tackle the “excessive behaviour” that has seen the town make headlines recently for all the wrong reasons, the municipal council of Albufeira is banning the use of bikinis and swimwear on public streets as part of its new proposed Code of Conduct.
The document, which was published in the State newspaper Diário de República and will remain under public consultation for 30 days, comprises a series of new restrictions aimed at keeping public behaviour in the town under control.
The new Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits individuals from being in a state of “partial nudity” in public areas, including streets, public spaces, and public transport. The restrictions extend to terraces of establishments, whether located in public or private spaces, as long as they are visible from public areas. The list of prohibited attire includes bikinis, trikinis, swimsuits, and similar garments, as well as swim trunks and briefs. Violators could face fines ranging from €300 to €1,500, with municipal police responsible for enforcement, the council says.
In addition to the swimwear restrictions, the council is also introducing measures to prohibit street drinking. The new code seeks to prohibit the consumption of alcohol in public streets and squares – a behaviour that has become all too common in Albufeira.
Also featured in the new document is a ban on abandoning supermarket trolleys outside designated areas.
The Code of Conduct also addressed public disturbances, forbidding excessive noise in residential areas.
Furthermore, the document stipulates certain behaviours, such as engaging in sexual acts, sleeping, cooking, or camping in public spaces, will be strictly prohibited.
However, the council clarifies that these rules will not apply to beaches, bathing areas, hotel outdoor spaces, or parking areas providing access to these zones.
Last summer, local mayor José Carlos Rolo had already stated the council was taking a firm stance in “defending Albufeira’s good image,” with the local council working on multiple fronts to “discipline public behaviour”. The goal was to “restore Albufeira’s good image,” said Rolo, for the good of both residents and tourists.
