'I cannot believe this!' Britons fume at 'tough' new alcohol restrictions in popular parts of Spain

Beach in Ibiza / people drinking beer on beach

The sale of alcohol has been banned at certain times

PA/GETTY
Sarra Gray

By Sarra Gray


Published: 13/05/2024

- 09:04

New rules have been approved which will affect tourists in the Balearic Islands and holidaymakers are not happy

The Balearic Islands have confimed new rules that will apply in popular tourist destinations such as Ibiza and Majorca.

These will see a ban on the sale of alcohol in shops between 9.30pm and 8am, effective immediately.


The Balearic Islands government voted on the new restrictions to try and reduce rowdy and anti-social behaviour in holiday destinations.

It will also spend up to €16million (around £13.7million) improving tourist areas. The restrictions will stay in place until at least January 1, 2028.

Street in Magaluf

Magaluf is affected by the ban

PA

Holidaymakers in Spanish destinations Llucmajor, Palma, Calvia (Magaluf) and Sant Antoni will be affected.

Party boats have also been banned from picking tourists up from towns included in the ban and from sailing within one nautical mile of them.

Those who break the rules can be fined between €1,500 and €3,000 (£1,290 and £2580).

Drinks bought before 9.30pm can still be consumed after this deadline but Palma mayor Jaime Martínez stated he hopes this "corrects uncivil attitudes".

However, Britons are unhappy with the new restrictions and have shared their views on social media.

One said: "I cannot believe this. The sale of alcohol will be totally banned between 9.30pm and 8am in areas of 'excessive tourism' in Majorca and Ibiza... Bye-bye to the main tourism industry there."

Another described the new rules as "tough" for tourists while a third quipped: "Fun police alert!".

This comes as parts of Spain have been staging protests against tourists who display anti-social behaviour while on holiday.

People drinking in Spain

Drinks bought before 9.30pm can still be consumed after this time

GETTY

One wrote: "I've just come back from Tenerife. It's not busy, mostly couples and families. Their economy would not do without tourists... it would be madness."

Another added: "Reap what you sow. If you market to a certain type of tourist, don't be surprised when they turn up."

One more posted on social media platform X: "This will be a lesson to them. Never bite the hand that feeds you."

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