Why do you have to wear speedo's in France?

[Clem]

Ive had this a few times, Ive normally gone to the beach instead or sunbathed, but the last time I had to find a market shop and get some, it was the end of a fortnight trip and I had a full on 'board short' sun tan and then had to wear tiny speedos .... :lol: :evil:

I think the rule is there to stop kids living in board shorts, riding bikes, playing about, eating, etc etc and then entering the pool with shorts that are dirty?

Id rather that than some of the overweight old guys you see that spend every waking minute in the same trunks ... :? 'barf'

 

[beef]

I asked a French colleague about this as I also fell foul of it on a trip to France.

"it iz ze law".

Apparently, it is an actual French health & safety ruling to maintin hygene by limiting the migration of short & curlies.....................

They dont have to be "budgie smugglers" as such, they can be any close fitting ("Toight") trunks, but no boarders.


The other possibility is that its yet another attempt to make Johnny Foreigner look stupid

Am I the only one who thinks that brits abroad do a good enough job of making themselves look stupid anyway. You can spot a British group a mile off, which is quite handy.....

 

[Mr Brightside]

Am I the only one who thinks that brits abroad do a good enough job of making themselves look stupid anyway. You can spot a British group a mile off, which is quite handy.....

Oh yes, I find myself cringing sometimes.

I used to get constant comments from my Dutch workmates about Brits abroad & British culture whenever there was anything in the media (Geordie Shore was the last example).

I found this old one which generally quietens things a little.

 

[Trikky2]

I asked a French colleague about this as I also fell foul of it on a trip to France.

"it iz ze law".

Apparently, it is an actual French health & safety ruling to maintin hygene by limiting the migration of short & curlies.....................

They dont have to be "budgie smugglers" as such, they can be any close fitting ("Toight") trunks, but no boarders.

True. Heavily used pools in the heat of summer + kids/adults wearing knee length "shorts" and sweating in them all day long, sitting on the dirt etc and then repeatedly jumping into the pool to cool off does cause significant pollution to a busy pool.

In addition many tourists use shorts that are not swimming trunks at all and they, like T shirts, tend to shed/dissolve which clogs the pool filters.

These laws were brought in more than 20 years ago after hygiene issues were found by inspectors investigating complaints from tourists. Its not just about how clean the water looks - you can catch quite a few unpleasant bugs from pools when the chlorine levels have been degraded by pollutants.

The rules are there to protect you from other less responsible people.

The authorities carry out random checks on site/hotel/public pools during the summer. They can and do close down any pools that fail the stringent hygiene tests. Closing a pool in the middle of a season can empty a campsit so its in the owners interest to make sure that doesent happen.

 

[jonboylaw]

Just don't let the "S" wear off your trunks or you could find yourself extremely unpopular, especially in a pool filled with kids!!


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[aspro]

I asked a French colleague about this as I also fell foul of it on a trip to France.

"it iz ze law".

Apparently, it is an actual French health & safety ruling to maintin hygene by limiting the migration of short & curlies.....................

They dont have to be "budgie smugglers" as such, they can be any close fitting ("Toight") trunks, but no boarders.

True. Heavily used pools in the heat of summer + kids/adults wearing knee length "shorts" and sweating in them all day long, sitting on the dirt etc and then repeatedly jumping into the pool to cool off does cause significant pollution to a busy pool.

In addition many tourists use shorts that are not swimming trunks at all and they, like T shirts, tend to shed/dissolve which clogs the pool filters.

These laws were brought in more than 20 years ago after hygiene issues were found by inspectors investigating complaints from tourists. Its not just about how clean the water looks - you can catch quite a few unpleasant bugs from pools when the chlorine levels have been degraded by pollutants.

The rules are there to protect you from other less responsible people.

The authorities carry out random checks on site/hotel/public pools during the summer. They can and do close down any pools that fail the stringent hygiene tests. Closing a pool in the middle of a season can empty a campsit so its in the owners interest to make sure that doesent happen.

I totally understand the reasoning from a hygeine perspective, but then why aren't swimming specific shorts allowed in the pool?

I've seen many Europeans sit in a pair of buggie smuglers all day long, sweating their fat balls off and then using the pool. Tell me that is hygeinic. :lol:

 

[Trikky2]

I totally understand the reasoning from a hygeine perspective, but then why aren't swimming specific shorts allowed in the pool?

I've seen many Europeans sit in a pair of buggie smuglers all day long, sweating their fat balls off and then using the pool. Tell me that is hygeinic. :lol:

Speedos have a much smaller amount of material.

Yes there are always exceptions that can be pointed out in every and all situations.

Perfection is a non existent human delusion.

People wearing speedos all day are far less common, though they should not.

Knee length shorts are worn all day by nearly all.

Without inspecting each person every time they enter the pool area its impossible differentiate between swim knee length shorts and ordinary knee length shorts.

Who pays for such a person to do the checking - how much do you want to pay for your camping holiday?

 

[Shorty]

IF the reasons for such a ridiculous rule are true (and I have no evidence to suggest they are not), then why has the rest of the planet not followed suit?

I think France need to take a second look at this 'law' and align themselves with the rest of the world...

#justsaying

 

[user 14475]

This particular French law is currently causing me lots of consternation. We're off to Frejus in late August, but already Mrs Bird is insistent upon my taking the necessary preventative gym activity to avoid Greenpeace being called to re-float me in the site pool.

Rules is rules I guess, but there's nothing more guaranteed to make a gentleman self conscious than the aforesaid enforcement of the wearing of budgie smugglers whilst bathing.

 

[Trikky2]

Some mis conceptions going on here BTW.

I think you will find they dont have to be "budgie smugglers" or "speedos".

Ordinary, normal, genuine swimming trunks are perfectly acceptable.

Just not the ridiculous, knee length so called "shorts" flapping about like a nomads awning, with enough material in the legs to qualify as an emergency spinnaker. :lol:

 

[busdiver]

with trikky on this been to france on several occasions and only ever worn trunks daniel craig stylee for going in the pool, you can still sit by the pool in ya boardies just whip em off to swim, and to be honest i'm no slimline but as everybody else has trunks or budgies on it's not so bad.

 

[radish]

Are suggesting these type? http://www.simplyswim.com/departments/MensSwimwear/SwimShorts.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or thrunks like hot pants?

 

[Quincey]

I don't know what you're all going on about. I've always worn nut huggers, much to my wife's disgust. I wear them to our local pool. Much more comfortable IMO. then again, I grew up in them back in Oz.
I agree with the cheese nibblers. I wouldn't care if you are trim and taught or look like a string bag full of apples. You're on holidays so enjoy yourself and do as the locals do.
Just my humble two bobs worth.

 

[Trikky2]

Are suggesting these type? http://www.simplyswim.com/departments/MensSwimwear/SwimShorts.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or thrunks like hot pants?

I have never had any issues with that type of swimwear.

 

[AndyO]

wear them under your shorts, job done?