Picnic Ban on Italy's Beaches Sparks Controversy

The Editors, 17.07.2026

As more visitors bring their own lunch, beach clubs in Puglia are pushing for stricter rules.

A sandwich, some fruit and a bottle of water are essentials for many families spending a day at the seaside. But in Italy's southern region of Puglia, this simple picnic has become the centre of a heated debate: several operators of private beach clubs want to ban guests from bringing their own food and drinks.