Survey unveils top beach do’s and don’ts

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

DID ANYONE EVER TELL YOU, “WE DON’T NEED TO BRING THE BEACH HOME WITH US!”? 

DESPITE BEST EFFORTS, ONE IN SIX AMERICANS STILL FIND SAND IN THEIR CLOTHES AT LEAST A WEEK AFTER GOING TO THE BEACH.

A SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICAN BEACH-GOERS REVEALED 84% BELIEVE IT’S A SUMMER NECESSITY TO GO TO THE BEACH AT LEAST ONCE, WITH THE AVERAGE RESPONDENT GOING SIX TIMES EACH YEAR.

CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF BEACHBOUND VACATIONS, RESULTS ALSO REVEALED THAT 30% SEEK OUT THE SEA AND SAND AS EARLY AS JUNE, THOUGH NEARLY ONE-QUARTER (25%) WILL GO EVEN SOONER.

AMERICANS ARE WILLING TO DRIVE AN AVERAGE OF THREE HOURS FOR THE PERFECT BEACH DAY, WITH ONE IN SEVEN EVEN EXPANDING THAT RANGER FURTHER.

BUT MAKE SURE YOU DON’T RUIN SOMEONE ELSE’S PERFECT DAY. BEACH ETIQUETTE INCLUDES NOT SITTING TOO CLOSE TO OTHERS IF THERE’S OPEN SPACE (58%), NOT LITTERING (53%) AND AVOIDING SHAKING OFF SAND TOO CLOSE TO OTHERS (51%).

TOP “RULES” OF “BEACH ETIQUETTE”

• Don’t sit too close to others if there is open space — 58%
• Don’t litter — 53%
• Don’t shake off/remove sand close to others — 51%
• Don’t play music loudly — 40%
• Don’t set up your things right in front of others — 39%
• Don’t leave kids unattended — 34%
• No public displays of affection — 33%
• Don’t yell/be obnoxiously loud — 33%
• Don’t leave a mess behind — 31%
• No staring — 30%

MOST ANNOYING “BEACH ETIQUETTE RULES” TO BREAK

• Littering — 45%
• Shaking off/removing sand near someone — 31%
• Sitting too close to someone — 31%
• Engaging in public displays of affection — 30%
• Playing music loudly — 25%

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans who go to the beach was commissioned by BeachBound between July 18 and July 19, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).