A beach in Puglia: Many visitors bring their own food and drinks.Image: Imago
A dispute breaks out over food on the beach in Puglia. Lido operators want to prohibit guests from bringing their own food. The law says otherwise.
Jul 12, 2026, 7:16 amJul 12, 2026, 7:16 am
Laura Helbig / t-online
Pack your swimming trunks… and enough water, a towel, sunscreen and maybe a snack or two. Anyone who goes to the beach usually has some provisions with them – a few sandwiches, cookies, some fruit. Buying food and drinks locally is often expensive, especially in the tourist hotspots on the Mediterranean.
But in some places the practice of packing provisions seems to have reached a level that some beach resort operators no longer tolerate. In the Italian region of Puglia, many operators are so angry that they have banned bringing in drinks and food. This is reported by Italian media such as the “Corriere della Sera”. The criticism: The supply is no longer limited to sandwiches; Instead, the beach visitors’ meals would turn into “binges.”
“Complete lunches with pasta, main courses, fruit, desserts and drinks are often brought to the beach resorts,” as an employee of the regional tourism association tells the “Corriere della Sera”. This leads to problems with “hygiene, waste disposal, cleanliness and decency”. In addition, some operators of beach resorts fear a “loss of image” and loss of money. If you take something to eat and drink with you, you won’t spend any more money on site.
“The sea must not become a luxury”
Consumer advocates and some politicians oppose this. Antonio Decaro, President of the Puglia region, took a clear stance on social media and sharply criticized the operators’ attitude. “The cost of parasols and deck chairs alone is exorbitant. Can we really require those who choose to go to the beach to only eat in the bar or restaurant?” Decaro said in a video. He added: “The sea is a common good and must not become a luxury.”
Decaro referred to the Apulian beach regulations, which have expressly allowed people to bring their own food and drinks to the beach for years – even on concession beaches. However, since 2019, anyone who brings food from home must use biodegradable cutlery and crockery.
What does the law say?
According to Massimiliano Dona, president of the national consumer association Unione Nazionale Consumatori, the state concession of a lido refers to services such as loungers and parasols, not to catering. An operator may therefore not require its guests to only buy at the in-house bar or restaurant.
However, the right to bring your own food does not mean that everything is allowed. Dona herself emphasizes that bathers must maintain decency and respect other guests. Anyone who sets up real picnics with tables, chairs, grills or large cooler bags and thus blocks common areas must expect the operator to intervene. There is also the obligation to keep the beach clean and take your own rubbish with you.
So the conclusion is clear: a roll, some fruit and a cool drink – that’s perfectly fine. A multi-course lunch, however, is not.