Spending a day at the beach can be an absolute blast. Your fellow beachgoers, however, can make it decidedly less enjoyable. “In general, etiquette is all about being mindful of other people, which certainly includes being mindful of other people at the beach,” Nick Leighton, an etiquette expert and co-host of the “Were You Raised by Wolves?” podcast, told HuffPost. “Although you’re outside, you are not alone and your behavior can and does affect other people.”AdvertisementTo help beach days more enjoyable for yourself and others, HuffPost asked Leighton and other etiquette experts to share some common faux pas they should avoid on the shore. Here are a few rude behaviors to avoid at the beach.Encroaching On Others’ Space“Find a spot that is at least three paces from other’s belongings,” suggested Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “The idea here is to give others a bit of personal space. The spacing should allow for beachgoers to walk between your towel and the other towel without kicking up sand on either.”If it’s too crowded and you have to be a little bit closer to others, be extra careful as you walk by to avoid kicking up sand or otherwise disrupting their beach time. “Don’t assume other people want to talk,” said Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert, author of “Modern Etiquette for a Better Life” and founder of The Protocol School of Texas. “Watch their body language and if they engage, feel free to continue. If they put their ear buds in, it’s a sign they want to be left alone.”AdvertisementBlocking ViewsBe mindful of the people behind you as you set up your area as well. “Many beachgoers like to bring all the comforts of home,” Smith said. “This is fine so long as it does not prohibit others from enjoying the sights. Your umbrella or tent should not inhibit other people’s ability to view the water.”Nadine Maruszczak / EyeEm via Getty ImagesBe mindful of others and their views as you set up your beach spot.Ignoring Smoking EtiquetteContinue to be mindful of the people around you if you decide to smoke at the beach as well. That includes paying attention to where you smoke and what you do when you’re finished. “If you are at a beach that still allows smoking and you want to light up, you will need to head way down the beach,” Smith sa …
The Rudest Things You Can Do At The Beach
