People go to the beach for different reasons. Some like to surf, some like to swim and others just like soaking in the sun on the sand. If you’re one of the latter, then you know all too well that it’s a free-for-all on the shores when it comes to music. 

Whether you like it or not, it has become the norm for people to bring their own speakers to the beach and listen to tunes out loud. Sure, music at the beach is no new phenomenon. Head to any beach in Europe and you’re likely to find vendors playing music. It’s a vibe. But when you have two speakers competing against each other and you’re stuck between the two clashing melodies, frankly, it’s downright annoying. 

According to a new survey released by Spotify, Aussies have had enough of hearing other people’s tunes while at the beach. The music streaming service revealed that 78% of Australians are in favour of banning loud or offensive music at the beach. And over 50% of us think those that do create noise pollution at the beach should be fined or penalised. 

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While Aussies would prefer beaches to be quieter, they’re not completely opposed to people listening to bops on the shore. Spotify’s research showed 51% of people would be content with loud and quiet zones on the beach and 62% are okay with speakers playing music as long as the volume isn’t on high. 

Beach etiquette has become quite a controversial topic as of late. In France, the French government has completely banned smoking on all beaches. As part of the national anti-smoking campaign, legislation will be introduced early this year in a bid to curb smoking in public spaces, including beaches. Precise details of the ban have yet to be released, but it’s thought that fines will be issued to anyone caught flouting the new rules. 

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