Portugal beach ‘noise’ rule could land UK holidaymakers with £30k fine for breach

UK holidaymakers are being warned they could face huge fines if they breach a new ‘noise’ rule on beaches in Portugal.

Portugal’s National Maritime Authority (ANM) has banned playing loud music through portable speakers at a volume that upsets other beachgoers.

The fines for those who break the rule start at £170 (200 euros) and increase up to £3,400 (4,000 euros) for those who are repeat offenders, or have ignored previous warnings. For groups in breach of the rule, the fines can reach a whopping £30,953 (36,000 euros).

Locals and tourists who are bothered by loud noise blasting from portable speakers on Portugal’s beaches are being urged to contact the local Maritime Police force responsible for the beach where the disturbance is.

A spokesperson for the ANM said: “Portable speakers are prohibited on beaches at volumes which can bother other sunbathers. “We have seen this problem increase in recent years and we are increasing our vigilance to combat it.”

It is unclear how loud music would have to be before officials consider it at a level worthy of a fine, or whether police will be given powers to confiscate speakers in cases where offenders refuse to turn the volume down.

The ban comes as the peak tourist season approaches in popular areas such as the Algarve, which welcomes more than one million tourists from the UK every year.

Brits heading on holiday to Europe are also being warned to expect changes at the border later this year as new rules come into effect. Holidaymakers will soon be required to register their fingerprints and pictures under EU new laws which will apply in major European holiday spots, including Portugal, Spain, France, Greece and Italy.

The European Union is introducing a new automated IT system to register all travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries every time they cross an EU external border. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will require travellers to scan their passports and other travel documents at a self-service kiosk before crossing the border.

The system will register your name, type of travel document, fingerprints, pictures of your face, and the date and place of entry and exit. This data will be used to ensure compliance with the rules of the Schengen area on entry and the permitted lengths of stays. The system will also record anyone who overstays and any refusals of entry.

It is due to come into effect by the end of this year, but a confirmed date is yet to be announced. It has already been delayed twice, after originally being scheduled for 2022 and later pushed back to May 2023.

The system will apply when entering 25 EU countries - including all member states except Cyprus and Ireland - and four non-EU countries that are part of the border-free Schengen area. This includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Currently, the UK and Ireland have a common travel area in place meaning the EES system will not be put in place for travel between the two countries.