article_detail

Spain’s Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, are intensifying measures against alcohol-fuelled tourism in popular areas such as Playa de Palma, Magaluf and Sant Antoni. The government is tightening laws passed in 2020 to curb street drinking and regulate party boats.

 

Penalties for drinking outside designated areas will range from 500 to 1,500 euros, with a focus on cracking down on infractions by foreign holidaymakers, which will be reported to their respective embassies.

 

The new regulations, which came into force this Saturday May 11, also impose stricter controls on party boats, prohibiting them from operating within one nautical mile of designated zones. Advertising for party boats in these areas was already banned previously.

 

It has always been illegal to drink in public spaces in Spain, including on the beach and in the street if not within the premises of a bar or restaurant.

 

Luis Pomar from the Balearic Islands tourism council noted that the 2020 legislation has been effective in curbing antisocial behaviour, expressing hope that with continued efforts it might become unnecessary within three to four years.

 

A significant investment of up to 16 million euros will be allocated to improving tourist-heavy areas, responding to concerns raised by local authorities.

 

The government of the Balearic Islands has also announced an expansion of the commission responsible for promoting civility in tourist zones, now including representatives from countries whose tourists contribute to the identified issues, notably the UK and Germany.

 

Additionally, the 2020 law prohibits alcohol sales in shops between 9.30pm and 8am, aiming to create a more responsible tourism environment.

 

While the government has positioned these measures as crucial to tackling the worst of the excesses by young partygoers to the islands, aiming to reshape the tourism landscape, some locals have worried about the impact on businesses, which are heavily reliant on tourism.