I am from the UK and i am going on holiday to Greece tomorrow as of writing this post. (Note: not my first time abroad in Europe)
One thing I have noticed about lots of other European countries, is that they (like the US, Australia and other places) allow plug sockets and light switches to be installed in bathrooms (even in hotels).
In the UK, we don't allow any of these to be installed unless they are at least 3m away from a water source and we have light switches outside or as cords you pull.
Why are we so strict? One reason, health and safety! We think it's dangerous to have live electrical sockets in bathrooms so I'm quite shocked that even countries like France and Spain allow this.
I am aware that very few people may have suffered electrocution, but I am just wondering what happens if the shower is a little steamy or water gets accidently spilled into it.
All I know was that the UK plug was developed as a result of a copper shortage I believe, and the different way the circuit was designed (hard to explain) required it to have fuses and switches. I'm wondering, is there an extra safety thing with water that European plugs have that UK ones do not? So we just make it partly illegal instead as we don't have that feature?
And I am aware that it would take ages to roll out a ban for these countries.