There was concern and even alarm in market halls around
the city of Malaga last weekend after the local authority announced that
a new bylaw would prohibit stallholders from “shouting out the nature
of their wares or their price or calling out to customers”. In other
words, anyone caught hollering to shoppers could face a 300 euro fine.
In the central Atarazanas market on Saturday there was
the usual bustle but no voices were heard above the general murmur, that
is, until you reached the fish section. Every so often fishmongers
advertised their wares to customers with cries of “Boquerones, jureles,
baratos”, or “Gambas, almejas, mejillones”; not too loud but loud enough
to hear. When consulted about the City Hall’s regulation one
fishmonger’s response was: “They must be bored”. “Shouting out
occasionally is quite normal”, said another, “It happens in markets all
over Spain”.
Even the customers were surprised by the prohibition:
“It’s outrageous, especially with this crisis, that they can’t even tell
people what they are selling”, said one shopper.
The reactions have already caused the local councillor,
Esther Molina, to tone down the plans for a ban. She explained that they
would try to limit the shouting and the noise levels but would not
prohibit the traditional selling techniques that make the markets lively
and boost sales.
