France has rolled out a new fine of up to £130 for men who go shirtless in public areas, excluding beaches. The measure, effective from June 15, targets resort towns like Deauville, Narbonne, and La Grande-Motte, where local authorities have either introduced or increased penalties for toplessness.
Where Does the Ban Apply?
In Deauville, the fine has been raised from €17 (£14.70) to €150 (£130). Nice has had similar restrictions since 1999, with a €35 (£30) fine for toplessness on the Promenade des Anglais and Quai des États-Unis. Other towns including Les Sables-d'Olonne, Palavas, Cassis, and Arcachon have also implemented fines around £130.
Warnings First
According to Nice's deputy mayor Anthony Borré, only about 5% of police stops result in fines, with most tourists warned and asked to put on a shirt. 'In 95% of cases, our officers inform the tourists, who put their T-shirts back on, and everything goes well,' he told FranceBleu.
Local Support
Mayor Yannick Moreau of Les Sables-d'Olonne took to Facebook to express frustration over shirtless men, calling it 'indecent behaviour' and emphasizing respect for residents and public hygiene. Locals expressed gratitude, with one commenter saying, 'Thank you mayor. I find this completely intolerable.'
Double Standards for Women
Women face harsher penalties under the French Penal Code, with fines up to €15,000 (£13,000) and possible jail time for 'sexual exhibitionism' if topless in public. This disparity was highlighted at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where nudity was banned for decency reasons. Dr John Mercer, a professor of gender and sexuality at Birmingham City University, noted that such rules are based on the assumption that women's nipples are inherently obscene.
Context and Trends
A 2021 IFOP survey found that the number of women regularly going topless on beaches dropped from 43% in 1984 to 19% in 2019. Despite this, France still largely embraces women's right to sunbathe topless on beaches, as seen in a 2020 incident where police officers who asked topless women to cover up were criticized by politicians, with Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin affirming that 'freedom is a precious commodity.'
Etiquette expert Laura Windsor argues against men going topless anywhere but the beach or pool, stating, 'It's pretty disgusting, I don't want to see all that sweat.' The new fines aim to enforce similar standards for men, aligning with long-standing expectations for women.
