A boozy British holiday spot popular with youngsters looking for sun, sea and sangria is about to have stringent laws implemented to restrict alcohol consumption on the island.
Mallorca, which makes up part of the Balearics in Spain, is home to Magaluf – renowned for its non-stop partying vibe, lively strip and crowds upon crowds of rowdy revellers drinking and clubbing until they drop.
The issue of binge-drinking is not new, and already there have been focused efforts to implement a new law following the bad behaviour of drunken tourists. According to reports, this included alcohol ban zones and night-time entry controls on beaches.
But these measures did not bring much improvement, with even the help of private detectives failing to make much of a difference.
In a ramped up step, authorities are now bringing in the Decree for Responsible Tourism to change its image. The new law, which ultimately culminates a name change from the decree against tourism, comes into force within the 2024 holiday season – and this time it affects the whole island.
The new law seeks to have restauranteurs and tourist venues sign a code of conduct, which limits how much and how frequently revellers can buy alcohol. The aim of it is not to drive tourism away, but to stamp out anti-social behaviour
The Balearic’s Tourism Minister Jaume Bauzà said the idea to encapsulate the whole island as previously, alcohol restrictions were segmented into zones, impacting streets within Playa de Palma and Magaluf, as well as in Sant Antoni de Portmany on Ibiza.
Within these zones, alcohol sales were restricted to specific quantities and times.
However, in some instances, the zones were divided in a manner that allowed purchases on the opposite side of the street. This practice is now set to be revised, the tourism minister explained.
The new rules are set to target providers over consumers, with penalties in place for anyone not following the law, Der Standard reported. However, the additional cost of these regulations could be passed down to holidaymakers.
Punishments for law breakers may get harsher, too, with a specific focus on balconing – the act of jumping from a balcony into a swimming pool. These sorts of acts become more likely when revellers have been drinking.
When addressing the issue of problematic tourists, Mallorca appears to be adopting a strategy reminiscent of Amsterdam’s approach.
In the spring, the Dutch capital initiated an online campaign targeting young male British tourists known for engaging in excessive behaviour while visiting the city. The campaign aimed to raise awareness and promote responsible tourism practices among this demographic.
According to the Balearic Tourism Minister, a similar campaign is now proposed for informing young adults aged 16 to 25 from the UK about the regulations and penalties applicable in Mallorca.
