Tackling the Summer Spanish Crazes of Sand-Hogging and “Balconing”
Sand-hogging is a practice that has existed for as long as
people have been holidaying in Spain but “balconing” is a relatively new
phenomena for the country and seems to be something only a narrow subset of
British holidaymakers are taking part in.
 |
The crazy risks young people are taking isn't worth
it as record number make a slight mistake a pay the price
|
The two Spanish summer crazes are on the increase this
summer and it’s getting so bad that even the authorities are having to do
something about it. Sand-hogging is an extension of the infuriating practice
whereby people “reserve” a hotel in spain poolside lounger by placing their towel or book on it only to never actually use the lounger for hours after doing so. They know
that no one would want to use the lounger if someone else’s property was on it.
Balconing is a far more disturbing and dangerous craze. It’s
where people, particularly young and drunk Brits, record themselves jumping
into the pool from the balcony. As you’d expect the higher the balcony and the
drunker the person the better. Spanish authorities are now stepping in to do
something about both of these practices and people have been fined and
hospitalised as a result.
Local councils in Valencia have been using fines of up to
€720 to people caught using towels, parasols and sun loungers to reserve a spot
on the beach in the morning but not coming to the beach until much later.
Spain has really seen a popularity boost in 2016 and, with
that, it’s become much more difficult to find a nice spot for yourself on the
Mediterranean beaches. Spain has decided to adopt the approach that Italy took.
Italian authorities began issuing fines for sand-hogging earlier this year.
Near Valencia, in Gandia, the town hall even brought in the
police to help put an end to the practice by removing the abandoned objects
from the beach to free up some space and discourage people from leaving things
on the beach. Carlos Peiro, a local who has had enough of the practice, told El
País that he sees many people set up camp during his morning walks and then
never return and he doesn’t think that doing such a thing is right.
Sand-hogging is something primarily done by older people
while balconing is definitely something done by the younger generation. One
surgeon who looked into the phenomenon says that the practice has become
something of a rite of passage for tourists in Spain.
Xavier González, a surgeon with Son Espases Hospital in
Palma de Majorca says that the practice is endemic and has become some kind of
initiation rite to some tourists.
The study looked at people who received hospital treatment between 2010 and 2015 for injuries caused by falling or jumping from a balcony.
The Local is reporting that 60% of the 46 people who received such treatment
were British, with Germans and Spaniards in second and third. The average age of the people who were injured
was 24 and all of them were male except for one lone female. The average height
that these people fell was 8 metres, or 26 feet.
The study doesn’t include the number of people who died as a
result of their injuries but it does mention that the craze has rung up almost
€1.5 million in hospital fees. Many of the people who are injured balconing are
left permanently disabled or in intensive care for some time.
Spanish authorities are now fining people who they catch
attempting the leap and informational leaflets discouraging the practice are
being issued at the more popular youth destinations in an effort to stop people
from taking part in the craze.
