2021.04.29 Escape
Even though 2020 was a year in which most of us could hardly be bothered getting dressed at all, nuding up was all the go. According to figures crunched by UK lingerie brand Pour Moi, there were 10.7 million Google searches for the terms ‘nude beaches’, ‘nude resorts’ and ‘sunbathe nude’.
The highest number of searches stemmed from the USA, Japan and Brazil but when those numbers were adjusted relative to population, guess who came out in front? It was Aussies all the way. Oi, Oi, Oi! Followed by New Zealand and – wait for it – Ireland.
Of course, the desire to nude up and how that action is perceived varies hugely from culture to culture. According to the world map that eventuated from the research, there are 39 countries that are relaxed about public topless or nude sunbathing, allowing it in multiple official or unofficial locations. We’re talking the likes of Mauritius, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Iceland (shrinkage alert) and of course, Australia.
Things get murky in 29 nations marked amber where laws are ‘ambiguous’ or ‘contradictory’. Take Colombia, for example, where topless bathing or nudity is “illegal and can result in fines if done in the wrong location, however nudist beaches are available.”
Naturally, there were always going to be some nations where it is expressly forbidden. Come on down India, China, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Belarus, Fiji, the Philippines, Kenya, Tanzania, Malaysia and Taiwan – to mention just a few.
In the United States, it’s a state by state affair. In 32 such territories, you can drop your dacks with impunity. If, however, you happen to be in Florida, Texas, Nevada or New Jersey, think twice as it’s not quite clear and you could find yourself in strife. Where it’s definitely verboten is Utah, Tennessee, Indiana and South Carolina.
Ultimately, the researchers found where authorities got their panties (or lack of) in a bunch was at the intersection of public nudity laws and naked sunbathing. In other words while the first is not kosher, the second can be infinitely more tolerable and may get you off – as it were – with a warning. It all comes down to the difference between an honest mistake versus the ‘intention to offend’.
