It is an annual problem in Mallorca and Ibiza: tourists who consume alcohol excessively. Recently, the government of the Balearic Islands, to which the islands belong, has introduced stricter rules.
The new measures, which mainly focus on the well-known nightlife areas such as the Ballermann on Mallorca (popular with German tourists) prohibit the consumption of alcohol in public spaces.
The tightened rules of conduct were announced on Friday in the capital Palma on Mallorca, writes the German dpa.
The measure will officially enter into force within a few days after publication in the Official Gazette. Offenders, both tourists and locals, who are caught drinking alcohol in public, for example with an open beer can on the beach or in public spaces, can expect a fine ranging between 500 and 1,500 euros.
In an effort to crack down on so-called ‘booze tourism’, the regional government had already passed a package of legislation in 2020. This had somewhat faded into the background due to the corona crisis.
Now parts of this legislation are being amended by a decree. Previously, it was only forbidden to consume alcohol on the street in groups, without a maximum group size being set. Under the new regulations, it is now forbidden to drink alcohol at all on public roads or on the beach, even if someone is alone.
However, the ban does not apply to the entire island of Mallorca, but mainly concentrates on the German tourist hotspot Playa de Palma south of the capital and the British party zone Magaluf west of Palma. The ban also applies to Sant Antoni de Portmany in Ibiza.
The new decree is initially valid until the end of 2027. The authorities are optimistic that by then the excesses will be manageable even without strict regulations. However, it remains to be seen how strictly the police will enforce the new ordinance. (Photo Shutterstock).
