Can you bring food into beach resorts? We ask ourselves this question every year before leaving for vacation because, punctually, at the beginning of summer a controversy erupts due to a new news story. The most sensational remains the one from two years ago in Bacoli where the managers of some beach resorts had even searched customers’ bags to check that they did not have any supplies with them, while last year a story of Apulian beaches that had placed very explicit bans took centre stage: no food in the establishments, nor drinks. In short: customers were forced to buy food and drinks in their bars. Also last year in Sant’Antioco (province of Southern Sardinia) for a moment the frequenters of the free beaches thought they had to go home for lunch to avoid being forced to pay a fine of 500 euros: all because of a municipal ordinance that prohibited «to have a picnic or to consume meals of any kindfollowing which the mayor then clarified that he had no intention of banning sandwiches or biscuits at midday.

There is no specific news story this year, but theThe controversy over food in establishments and on free beaches is still taking centre stage on social mediawith some creators who are teasing each other with posts about the habit of bringing food to the beach, even heavy food like baked pasta and parmigiana, as is often done in the south. Obviously, tastes are not up for discussion, but what does the law say about this?

Food in beach resorts: what the law says

As regards beach resorts, the law clearly states that they can’t force us not to eat under the umbrella. Indeed, as the lawyer Elia Ceriani has already explained to us: «It is absolutely illegal to impose a ban on bringing food and drinks from home. Obviously, the rules of common sense apply: no picnics, no large tables, and no food brought from home and consumed in the restaurant and bar areas of the establishment. For the rest, the choice of what to eat, and how to eat, is absolutely personal.

The Consumers’ Union has also expressed itself very clearly on this issue, in a handbook on the rules to be respected on the beach, explaining that «a beach resort cannot force customers to use additional paid services (such as those of the beach resort restaurant, ed.) in addition to those provided for by the beach concession. And then he continues by specifying that «any generic signs prohibiting access to food displayed at the entrance to the establishment have no value. So, ultimately «the consumer is always allowed to bring his own food to the beach. This also applies if you are a customer of an establishment (regardless of whether it has a restaurant service). However, it is important to respect the decorum of the beach and the users, avoiding for example excessively bulky coolers or setting up “tables” on the sunbeds.

Food on free beaches: what the law says

On a free beach the rules don’t change: you can eat what you prefer, within the limits of common sense and decency, as well as the law. Yes, to be clear, sandwiches, salads, even a plate of parmigiana which is traditionally the Sunday lunch at the seaside for many families in the South (sometimes mine too), but respecting some limits: for example, do not put the parmigiana (or anything else) on a table that could impede the passage of other swimmers, or set up a family gazebo (this also happens), or even start cooking (look on social media to believe: there are people who do it). «On the beach – the lawyer Ceriani always explained to us – fires cannot be lit, and it may even be forbidden to simply place tables to make dinners for environmental protection reasons. In short, let’s also check the municipal regulations and always remember that kindness and good taste never go on vacation.

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