Coastal tourism in England, especially in places like Skegness and Cleethorpes, has long been popular due to attractions such as donkey rides. John Nuttall, who has been organising these rides for over 40 years, recently introduced new rules that have sparked controversy. In response to the growing problem of childhood obesity, the 61-year-old has decided to weigh his young passengers before each ride. This decision was met with mixed reactions.

The owner of coastal donkey rides in England has introduced a rule requiring children to be weighed before riding, sparking a heated debate about obesity. John Nuttall, the 61-year-old operator, says the new regulations are designed to protect donkeys from overloading. However, critics accuse him of publicly shaming children rather than addressing the root causes of the problem.

Nuttall has placed the scales next to his paddock, accompanied by a notice board outlining the ride conditions: children must be under 140 cm tall, younger than ten, and weigh less than 38 kg. Those who meet these requirements can enjoy a short ride for £4.

The decision was made after observing that children were becoming heavier. Nuttall explained that the weight restriction was introduced to prevent the donkeys from being overburdened.

"Parents often check their children's weight themselves and don't have a problem with it," Nuttall told the BBC. "But if there happens to be a child who is too heavy, we have to check that, and unfortunately, if they are too heavy, we can't allow them to ride," he explained.

The introduction of weighing scales has sparked criticism from concerned mothers and the Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of organisations combatting obesity. Katharine Jenner, the organisation's director, has spoken out against publicly weighing children, calling it "completely unacceptable." She emphasised that instead of shaming children, efforts should be focused on addressing the factors contributing to high levels of obesity.

This situation reminds me of the Parable of the Donkey. Despite the criticism, Nuttall remains firm in his decision and asserts that it is a matter of concern for the health and safety of both children and donkeys. He also mentioned that even if a child is too heavy, they can still spend time with the donkeys, petting and playing with them.

Nuttall's decision has also brought attention to the broader animal welfare issue in tourism. In Poland, similar debates are occurring regarding horses pulling carriages with tourists on the route to the Morskie Oko Lake in the Tatra Mountains. Pro-animal organisations have repeatedly called for improved horse working conditions and stricter regulations to safeguard the animals from overloading and mistreatment.