Littering, loud music, invading other people’s space and a loose cannon of a beach ball can wreck a day at the beach. This summer, mix a cocktail of sun, sea and decent behaviour.

We all carry a precious picnic basket of memories of endless days at the beach. From a slice of bread dripping with oil to books from the Famous Five series, bookmarked by magic sand dust, it’s as if our childhood was stranded on its own desert island. Normal rules and adult supervision didn’t dare set foot – on the beach, we could run free and generally act like the boys from Lord of the Flies.

And yet, that doesn’t sound too good. Because while the beach may be the last, excuse the pun, resort where democracy and lack of status rule, and where we can relax our attitude and self-regulate ourselves, basic social rules still apply. We cannot just go all atavistic. Because, in the end, we all know what happened to Ralph, Jack and Piggy.

Of course, we don’t need to put on our jacket-and-tie attitude or expect people to stick to Debrett’s guide to etiquette. However, we have all witnessed people who turn into fools when they see a stretch of sand, and families who set up a chaotic camp and, one towel at a time, conquer the whole beach. And they ruined our day at the beach.

So before you put on your swimsuit and sunscreen, let’s go over the basic rules of beach etiquette.

Trial by towel

The worst thing you can do with a towel is to shake it furiously to get rid of the sand and, consequently, throw the same sand in other people’s faces or, worse, eyes. Before shaking your towel, or any other clothing item for that matter, make sure that you do so downwind and away from others.

Speaking of towels, keep in mind that on the beach, they are also a territory marker. Don’t be a space invader and put your towel on top of someone else’s – find another square metre of beach which hasn’t been claimed yet.

Don’t drink and dive

True, an iced drink on the beach goes down wonderfully. However, be careful not to overdo it – an extra drink or two could make you a nuisance to others and create potentially dangerous situations. Also, beaches should be glass-free zones. Don’t leave bottles and glasses lying around – stick to plastic and clean up before you leave.

Play by the rules

When playing beach volley, throwing a frisbee or engaging in some other sport which involves running around with a ball, remember that you’re not at the Beach Olympics and that other people might not applaud your performance. When playing, stay away from the crowds so that you don’t trample on towels, kick up sand in people’s faces or accidentally hit someone. Have fun, but be considerate to others.

Wild boys

If you have children, the temptation is to just lie back and let them run wild. Don’t. First of all, your children need supervision at all times – the fact that there are other people around doesn’t mean that they will keep an eye out. They’re your children. Moreover, let’s be honest – unsupervised children can be a nuisance to other people.

Eat in the heat

Food tastes better on the beach, especially a hunk of Maltese bread with tomatoes, basil and tuna. However, there’s no need to abandon your manners. Clean up after you’ve enjoyed your snack – and that doesn’t mean burying leftovers in the sand or throwing empty wrappers in the sea. The litter bins are there for a reason. And if there aren’t any, just take your litter back home with you.

Sound of music

Yes, you have chosen to play some great summer vibes while enjoying the Maltese beaches. But that doesn’t mean you have to turn up the volume – you’re not the beach’s DJ.

Let the others enjoy their beach reads or quiet moments and put on your headphones.