Why are Italian authorities fining tourists for snacking?

Officials in Rome have started to fine tourists up to $645 for snacking around the ancient city’s historic monuments, including the Colosseum. The law bans camping or the use of makeshift shelters in the historic areas, but it also prohibits people from eating or drinking inside designated historic zones. Florence and Venice have similar laws. Venice also charges tourists a special hotel tax that funds efforts to keep the city from sinking.