Do you have bad beach etiquette? A new study breaks down Americans’ most shameless beach behaviors

Americans might love going to the beach, but their beach behavior might tell a different story. A new survey of more than 1,000 adults by Beach.com found that while 93-percent of Americans claim they have great beach etiquette, almost the exact same number—92-percent—admit to at least one bad beach habit. It’s the classic "it’s everyone else, not me" defense, and it’s not pretty.

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Here's what the survey reveals. A staggering 70-percent of respondents openly admit to peeing in the ocean. Nearly half (49-percent) drink alcohol on beaches where it’s banned. And 39-percent pocket shells or sand as souvenirs, ignoring the fact that this seemingly harmless habit actually damages coastal habitats and speeds up beach erosion. Beachgoers also admit to smoking, feeding wildlife, littering and not picking up after pets.

Even so, ask beachgoers what grinds their gears, and you'd think the respondents were beach angels. Littering tops the list of what Americans find most annoying, followed by people who don’t pick up after their pets and, of course, those who plop down a towel a little too close for comfort. On average, Americans commit three etiquette sins per trip, yet 70-percent say these same behaviors ruin their day.

Beyond the stats, the real problem is that millions of beach visitors don't adhere to the principle of "leave no trace," whether it’s a plastic cup, dog waste or removing that "harmless" handful of shells that many forms of marine life depend on.

If you want to avoid the most common beach annoyances, you can head for hidden gems and tucked-away beaches with far fewer crowds, but the better solution is to be a beach ambassador by picking up your trash, giving others space, wearing headphones and locating the nearest public toilet. Hopefully, fellow beachgoers will follow suit.

Most annoying beach behaviors, according to Americans:

1. Littering
2. Not picking up after pets
3. Sitting too close
4. Loud music
5. Shaking sand
6. Children invading space
7. Smoking
8. Pets invading space
9. Peeing in the water
10. Taking saved spots

Bad beach behaviors that Americans admit to:

1. Peeing in the water
2. Drinking alcohol
3. Taking sand or shells
4. Taking too long in beach facilities
5. Loud music
6. Not picking up after pets
7. Littering
8. Smoking or vaping
9. Feeding wildlife
10. Sitting too close