After analysing the contributions submitted during the public consultation period, the new code was approved by the Municipal Assembly of Albufeira on 6 June and published on Monday in the Official Gazette (DR), coming into force today, the day after its publication.

According to the notice published in the DR approving the new code, this is not a code “that imposes a certain type of clothing, or that restricts citizens' freedoms and guarantees”, but rather a way of preventing abusive behaviour.

The aim “is to respond to the feeling of the population that, having observed abusive behaviour on the part of some citizens, they find their freedom of movement restricted on some roads and public spaces in the municipality”, the text reads.

Speaking to Lusa, the mayor, José Carlos Rolo, said that signs will be placed on the streets of Albufeira with information about the rules, which is still being finalised, admitting that there will be a period of awareness-raising before the fines are applied.

Changing attitudes

“People need to start changing their awareness and adopting a different type of attitude, our aim is to prevent these attitudes and not to act after they have happened”, he said, warning that, after being warned, if people do not respect the rules, they may be fined by the Municipal Police or GNR.

The mayor took the opportunity to call on the collaboration of business owners and staff working in nightlife venues to pass on the information to tourists and visitors, before the fines are actually applied.

The new code aims to preserve the municipality, which is home to around half of the hotel supply in the Faro district, “as a multicultural, family-friendly and safe destination that values ​​its heritage and identity”.

“It is urgent to establish measures that will allow us to effectively deal with the adoption of abusive behaviour, especially by those who seek the municipality of Albufeira as a tourist destination”, continues the notice published in DR.

The measures are of a “preventive nature” in order to prevent the practice of acts that, “by their nature, may cause undesirable damage to the resident population and the image of the municipality as a tourist destination”, adds the document.

Fines

The fines for wearing a bikini or swimsuit outside authorised areas range from €300 to €1,500, and fines are also provided for drinking alcoholic beverages, urinating or defecating in public spaces.

Camping in unauthorised areas, spending the night on public roads or spitting implies a fine of €150 to €750, according to the code.

The practice or simulation of sexual acts, or walking completely naked on public roads, ranges from €500 to €1,800.

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