We're headed to Positano next week. We have a small backpack cooler that we use a lot to take to Caribbean beaches. Will this be acceptable at the beaches in and around Positano? Could we take alcohol or just water/soda? I'm trying to determine if this is illegal/highly frowned upon, we'll be hassled by vendors or it's totally acceptable to do this.

Thanks!

Not remotely illegal or frowned upon. Italians take eating on beaches to a high art – I've seen families unpack entire picnic tables. This is a nation obsessed with food, remember. Drinking wine or beer on the beach or with a picnic is also perfectly acceptable and quite civilised.

Welllll, I can think of a qualifier. If you want to sit in one of the "beach club" areas and pay for a chair, they may disallow bringing refreshments.

If you are sitting on the pebbles or a blanket, no problem. Public is public.

Also, unlike in the US, you can generally not rent a chair from a vendor, but instead pay for a spot in a privately run beach club. Sometimes hotels will give you specific spots.

These beach clubs can be elaborate or, IME, pretty simple, with chairs and refreshments.

I have never sat on the beach in Positano, so I can't speak for arrangements there.

I agree that depends on the type of beach. If you use the public beach, fine. If you use a private beach club, where you pay for loungers & an umbrella and where there is a bar / restaurant, no (with the exception of a large bottle of water) - it would be like taking your own refreshments to a restaurant. (And I have used beach clubs in & near Positano.)

Thanks! I'm more of a chair girl than a pebbles girl (even when I have to pay for it) so sounds like we'll probably skip the cooler and save the packing space for something else.