Aussie's cheeky gripe with controversial beach item sparks debate: 'Shouldn't be allowed'
Wherever you land in the debate on beach cabanas, there is no doubt they are here to stay.
Love them or hate them, it appears that CoolCabanas are here to stay as the popular trend cements its place in Australian beach culture with even Aldi coming out with a cheaper dupe of the ubiquitous sun shade. But as their popularity grows, so too does the real estate they take up on the sand — and not everyone is happy about it.
One beachgoer has highlighted this exact scene, lamenting that there was "no room" left for anyone else on the beach after Cabana groups took up more than their fair share of sand with their beach shades. "I hate to say it but someone's got to, I think Cool Cabana culture in Australia has gone f**king insane," the woman named Charl shared online.
"It's gone unchecked for too long now," she added.
The Aussie claimed she was "surrounded by a sea of CoolCabanas" while attempting to enjoy some time by the water on her own. But as she did, she witnessed what she described as a group with three cool cabanas erected on the beach sitting outside of the shaded area in the direct sun.
"You're literally taking up a 10 by 10 square metre radius on the beach, and you're still sitting outside your cool cabana in the sun," she complained, making the case that groups of less than four people "shouldn't be allowed to have one," adding, "there's no room for anyone else anymore."
Beach cabana gripe faces backlash
While many agreed with the sentiment of her message, which was viewed by over a million people worldwide, others defended the sun shades and their many benefits.
"How dare people seek shade in the blistering Australian sun. Unforgivable," mocked one person.
"Because when I’ve had enough sun I can just jump under the shade," defended another.
And they are right — the importance of having the option of shade when heading to the beach can't be overstated, Anne Cust, Chair of the Cancer Council's National Skin Cancer Committee, told Yahoo News last month.
"Use trees, built shade structures, or bring your own gazebo or umbrella with a high UPF designed to offer sun protection," she said. CoolCabanas provide UPF 50+ protection.
Other naysayers have expressed concerns about whether the beach cabanas obstruct the view for lifeguards, but Adam Weir, CEO of Surf Life Saving Australia previously told Yahoo that isn't the case.
"Surf lifesavers operate as a team, and are trained to move around the beach to provide the most suitable surveillance on any given day," he said.
"As such, if surveillance is impeded from a specific location on the beach they would move."
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