Brazilian Beaches Enforce Ban on Speakers

Brazil is synonymous with its beaches. Whether you’re there for tourism or business, odds are you’ll find your way to the sand. But what should be a tranquil experience has become marred by a common annoyance: the blaring sound of loud music. Beachgoers with speakers have transformed Brazil’s beaches into noisy hotspots.

Guarujá, a coastal city in the State of São Paulo, has long been a popular weekend destination for locals and tourists. It’s just hours from the city of São Paulo and an easy Saturday morning commute. While the local government has laws that prohibit the use of speakers at the beach, for years those laws went unenforced.

This year, however, that changed. On January 8, a group of police officers, municipal guards, and other enforcement officers began enforcing the ban. Previously, beachgoers would receive warnings - which still happens. In fact, thousands of flyers have been distributed. But in addition, they’re losing their speakers.

From January 8 to January 16, ten speakers were confiscated by officials. That number might seem low, but also consider that roughly 500 warnings were issued. Just two weeks before the enforcement measure went into effect, there were 4,700 reports of speakers making noise on six beaches in Guarujá. In addition to confiscating speakers, officials can issue citations of more than BRL$1,000 (approximately US$200).

If you plan to visit a beach in Brazil, know what’s permitted and what’s not before you go. Some beaches have adopted these restrictions while others have not.