Holidaymakers heading to Cyprus for the summer holidays have been warned they could be fined if they are caught breaking the country's driving laws.
Around 1.2 million tourists from the UK visit the Mediterranean island each year, and they are being warned that a surprising law could catch them out.
Anyone who will be driving while in Cyprus on holiday should be aware that it is illegal to drink or eat anything while behind the wheel of a vehicle.
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The rule is so strict that even the excuse of cooling yourself off with a drink in sparingly high temperatures is not enough to dodge the fine if caught, Wales Online reports. Simply being a tourist is also not enough of an excuse as the laws of the country still apply while you're visiting.
Graham Conway, managing director of leading vehicle leasing specialists Select Car Leasing, said: “It’s always important to remember while travelling abroad that laws can vary a lot, and something that is considered common or normal in the UK can be illegal in another country.
“In Cyprus, it’s against the law to eat or drink while driving, and that includes soft drinks, water and snacks for the journey. Given that temperatures regularly reach the mid-thirties in summer, it’s common for unsuspecting tourists to break this law in Cyprus. Before getting behind the wheel in Europe this summer, make sure you are fully up to speed with the rules and regulations of the country you’re in so you don’t fall foul.”
Cyprus is home to around 40,000 British nationals who moved there. The country was under British control between 1878 and 1960 which gives many Brits a feeling of familiarity.
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