If you can count on one thing in this world, it's that when temperatures climb, men will take their tops off. It's practically an epidemic during British summertime, with Scots considering anything over 16°C to be 'taps aff' time. While the UK seems to be fairly tolerant of men wandering around half-naked, France doesn't share the same approach.
New Fines for Topless Men in France
Men who take their tops off anywhere other than a beach in certain parts of France could soon be slapped with a hefty fine, after new penalties came into effect on June 15. The fines are similar to those in Malaga, Spain, which implemented a €750 (£648.41) fine for public nudity in 2023. With 102 million international visitors to France last year and 28% of men believing going topless is acceptable, according to a Perspectus Global study, this rule could affect many tourists.
Where in France Can't You Take Your Top Off?
Resort towns like Deauville, Narbonne, and La Grande-Motte have introduced new fines or increased existing ones. Deauville raised its penalty from €17 (£14.70) in the 2010s to €150 (£130). Nice has had restrictions since 1999, with a €35 (£30) fine for toplessness on the Promenade des Anglais and Quai des États-Unis. In practice, tourists often receive warnings; Nice's deputy mayor Anthony Borré said only 'around 5% of police stops' result in fines.
Mayor of Les Sables-d'Olonne, Yannick Moreau, ranted on Facebook about men roaming shirtless, calling it 'indecent behaviour.' He emphasized 'respect for the residents' and 'basic rules of public hygiene.' Locals supported the ban, with comments like 'Thank you mayor. I find this completely intolerable.'
In Palavas, Cassis, and Arcachon, similar fines of £130 are in effect. Despite temperatures reaching 43°C last summer, tourists may still try their luck.
Etiquette Expert Weighs In
Etiquette expert Laura Windsor argues men should not walk around without a t-shirt. 'It's pretty disgusting, I don't want to see all that sweat,' she said. 'All men should wear t-shirts. It isn't polite or appropriate to go topless except at the swimming pool or beach.' Narbonne's mayor Bertrand Malquier cited 'hygiene' problems and 'exhibitionism' as reasons for the ban.
The Double Standard
Women who go topless in public risk a €15,000 (£13,000) fine for 'sexual exhibitionism' under the French Penal Code, plus possible jail time, making penalties for women far harsher. At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, nudity, specifically nipples, was banned 'for decency reasons.' Dr John Mercer, a professor at Birmingham City University, criticized this double standard, saying it assumes women's nipples are 'obscene.'
However, France still largely embraces women's right to sunbathe topless on beaches. In 2020, police near Perpignan asked topless women to cover up after a complaint, sparking backlash. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin backed toplessness on beaches, stating 'freedom is a precious commodity.'
A 2021 IFOP survey found that the number of women regularly going topless on beaches dropped from 43% in 1984 to 19% in 2019. While these bans may feel repressive to men, they hold them to the same standard women have faced for decades.
