SPAIN: Giant Penises Banned At Spanish Resort Of Mojacar

The Spanish resort of Mojacar has banned tourists from carrying giant inflatable dolls or novelty penises in the street as it cracks down on rowdy behaviour.

Local council chiefs say they are fed-up with unruly groups of men and women, many of them on stag or hen nights, who are giving the popular resort on Spain's southern Almeria coast a bad image.

They are putting new restrictions on what can and cannot be done in public places and that includes 'inappropriate behaviour and attitudes'.

Inflatable dolls, giant willies and penis headbands are definitely a 'no go' and if seen in the future, will be confiscated and their owners fined.

The Spanish town is just the latest in a string of tourist resorts on the mainland and islands determined to present a new posher image.

The Mayoress, Rosa María Cano stressed they were not banning celebrations like stag nights or hen parties and did not want to spoil people's fun.

'That would be undemocratic,' she said.

However, the council felt there had to be 'co-existence' between all tourists and local people and the new regulations had to look at promoting and preserving family tourism.

Many of the stag parties started at noon, the Mayoress added, when young children were still about.

The new rules also aim to control aspects such as playing football in the streets or going out in public with just swimming trunks on and no tops.

Being naked in the street is also prohibited, along with wearing any sort of outfit which might cause offence to people's dignity, religious beliefs or have any 'xenophobic, racist, sexual, sexist or homophobic' undertones.

The only exception will be if associated with the annual carnival festivities.

'We are tired of rowdy groups parading round with inflatable dolls or novelty penis headbands,' said the Mayoress. 'We just don't want this sort of obscene behaviour in our town.'

Anyone breaching the new rules could be fined as much as €1,000 but generally, penalties will be between €100 and €300.

The tougher fines will apply if the offence happens in front of a lot of people or in religious or protected spaces.

The new rules were approved despite objections from the opposition parties.

Socialist Manuel Zamora branded the bylaws 'absurd' and said it could be very harmful to local tourism. He said people would get put off coming to the Almerian coastal town and spread the word to others about 'killjoy' leaders.

'If you punish someone for going out in a bathing suit, it will be so ridiculous and unfair,' he said.

The new rules have prompted a barrage of complaints on the social network sites.

One Facebook follower said a penis strapped to the head actually had links with bull-fighting in Roman legend.

'This sort of behaviour goes on everywhere, including London,' said another.