Rio de Janeiro (AP) – If you’ve visited the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, this might ring a bell.
Finding vendors can be challenging unless they possess the required permits.
In mid-May, Mayor Eduardo Paes announced a new decree aimed at establishing regulations for the city’s waterfront. He expressed his desire to ensure urban order, public safety, and environmental protection while fostering harmonious relationships between tourists and residents.
These newly introduced regulations will take effect on June 1, prohibiting the sale of food and beverages, chair rentals, speaker use, and even live music at kiosks without official approvals. Moreover, beach hats will only bear numbers, rather than the recognizable names many vendors currently use.
On Sunday, May 25th, 2025, vendors walk along Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro with hats and beachwear (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
While some support this measure as a way to address perceived disorder on the beach, others argue that it jeopardizes Rio’s vibrant beach culture and threatens the livelihoods of musicians and local vendors. Vendor who can find it hard or impossible to secure permits?
The attempt to regulate beachfront music has ignited notable concern.
“They provide the DJ services at kiosks,” remarked Julio Trindade. “While the world appreciates The Girl from Ipanema, you cannot play it on the beach.”
Restrictions on music “stifle the essence of the waterfront. It compromises the spirit of a dynamic, musical, and authentic Rio,” stated Aura Rio, the company managing over 300 kiosks, in a statement.
Can I halt or alter this?
Some are seeking ways to halt the enforcement of this law or at least adapt it to permit live music without required permissions. However, these efforts have thus far been largely ineffective.
Vendor Leandro Azevedo carries a tray of fruit cocktails to customers at Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, May 25th, 2025 (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Every year, millions of tourists and locals flock to Rio’s beaches, indulging in drinks and buying snacks from vendors selling everything from sweet corn to grilled cheese.
Local councilor Dani Barbi voiced her opposition to the bill via social media.
“What’s the logic in disregarding those who host large events with global artists and cultivate culture throughout the year in the city?” she questioned last week on Instagram, relating to a large concert with Lady Gaga earlier this month and last year’s Madonna.
“We’re forcing vendors to eliminate their business names and replace them with numbers, which dilutes brand identity and customer loyalty for those who reference the location,” Barbi added.
Frustration, Fear, and Sadness
Word of the crackdown on unlicensed vendors has stirred considerable concern and fear among the vendors.
Beach fans will pass the beachwear at Vendor’s Stand at Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, May 25th, 2025 (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
“It’s tragic,” lamented Juan Marcos, 24, a shrimp skewer vendor from Copacabana Beach. Favelas or low-income urban areas. “We hustle daily to earn a little, what will we do now?”
City Hall has yet to adequately issue permits to street vendors, according to Maria de Lourdes, 50, who leads the movement for United Street Vendors, known by its acronym MUCA.
“Recognition is necessary, but it’s not provided,” lamented Lourdes de Carmo, known as Maria, a street vendor. The city government has not responded to inquiries about how many permits were issued last year.
After protests, the city government emphasized in a statement on May 21 that several regulations are already in place. City Hall insisted that it is engaging with all stakeholders to better understand their needs and explore potential adjustments.
Maria Lucia Silva, a 65-year-old Copacabana resident returning from the beach with a pink chair, expressed hope for city intervention.
“Copacabana hosts numerous elderly residents (…). Those who pay exorbitant property taxes and rent are fed up with this uproar,” Silva remarked, condemning the noise and waste on the beach.
For Rebecca Thompson, 53, a native of Wales who returned to Rio after a five-week trip last year, the vibrancy of the beach is essential.
“It’s lively, full of energy. For me, there’s a strong sense of community and acceptance. If that disappears, it would be very sad,” she reflected.
Source: apnews.com