Brits divided over whether catching a tan in a public place without wearing a bikini or swimming trunks is socially acceptable

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

As Britain basked in tropical conditions this week with temperatures soaring towards 35C (95F), people eager to make the most of the scorching heat took to parks and beaches across the country to sunbathe.

But some sun worshippers went to extreme lengths to get a tan – and the issue has prompted fierce public debate.

Without having a bikini or swimming trunks to hand, many people left their workplaces early to enjoy the weather and were pictured trying to catch rays in just their underwear – dividing opinion in the process.

Dave Mason, 56, from Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, said it was unacceptable to strip off to underwear in a public place to get a tan.

“I would not do it myself and I don’t really want my grandchildren seeing that type of behaviour,” he said. “I really wouldn’t feel comfortable with someone lying in a park with just their briefs on. Swimwear is marginally better but even that would be slightly strange in a park. Maybe, on a beach but not in a park or on a street.”

Rian Ormrod, 34, from Manchester, said: “It all depends on what type of underwear it is. If they had an Ann Summers crotchless type affair then that would be a touch odd, but if it was something quite normal then I can’t see what the problem is.

“I would not do it myself unless I was with friends but most underwear is exactly like swimwear – just the material is sometimes slightly different.”

With good weather on the way for much of the country on Saturday, others went on social media in their droves to comment on whether stripping off was socially acceptable.

A slightly bemused andywg tweeted about a “large number of ladies sunbathing in Regent’s Park”.

Twitter user Keely wrote:

Keely (@Appydayz1) Surely it's the same thing, sunbathing in your bikini and sunbathing in your underwear?🤔

Meanwhile, Derek Coe in Birkenhead said he was left “feeling shocked”, as he tweeted: “Women on Price Street sunbathing in bra and knickers… Only in Birkenhead lol.”

Another Twitter user wrote:

DDM.J.CLARKE (@DDM_Clarke) Only in Croydon would a guy sunbathe in his boxers 🙄

The issue was also discussed on Quora, where one person asked: “Why is it socially acceptable for women to wear bikinis in public but not underwear?”

Most of those involved in the debate on the question-and-answer website seemed to be in agreement that swimwear was acceptable because it was designed to be worn as outerwear.

Hot weather around the UK – in pictures Read more

Will Wister wrote: “It’s about connotations. Underwear connotes the state immediately prior to nudity, so if someone is wearing underwear, that person is essentially saying: ‘Look at me I’m almost nude.’

“Swimsuits connote swimming at the beach or at a pool. The wearer is saying: ‘It’s so hot and I just went swimming or might sunbathe later and I’m too lazy to change.’

“So it has nothing to do with the amount of the body the clothing exposes and everything to do with what the clothing signifies.”