Restrictions on stag and hen parties are introduced in tourist hotspot

Malaga is the next holiday destination to approve the modification of two articles of a local bylaw to control the anti-social behaviour of people on stag and hen parties. The new rules mean that nobody can walk in the street without appropriate clothing or just in their underwear or swimwear, or with items and dolls “of a sexual nature or with accessories that represent genitals".

The City Council announced three months ago that they were considering introducing the rules, but now they have been approved and will be implemented very soon.

If caught breaking one of the new restrictions, the Local Police will warn people that their behaviour is not permitted and ask them to stop, but if they don’t, they can face fines of up to 750 euros, the same amount as for vandalism, swimming in fountains, or doing acrobatics/tricks on bikes, skateboards, or scooters in public areas.

Stag and hen parties, or just groups away for weekends, in Malaga, have increased in popularity over the past few years, leading to local residents and opposition groups highlighting the problems and demanding a solution.

The council says its aim is to ensure that local residents can live in peace. “The proliferation of certain types of behaviour in recent years, such as nudism, wearing nothing but underwear or carrying erotic items in public, means that we have to introduce new regulations. Public spaces must be preserved as places where people can meet, coexist and enjoy their leisure time while respecting others,” a source at the city hall said.

Malaga is just the latest region to implement these new rules after other tourist hotspots, such as Magaluf, have decided to get tough on ‘unruly’ behaviour. Certain municipalities in the Canary Islands are already discussing whether to apply the same laws.