HIT FOR SIX!
Tourists going to Spain’s Balearic Islands face drink limit
ALL-INCLUSIVE holidaymakers jetting off to Spain’s Balearic Islands will be limited to six drinks a day with resorts facing fines of up to €60,000 if found to be flouting new laws.
Resorts in Mallorca’s Magaluf and Playa de Palma as well as San Antonio in Ibiza will only be allowed to serve three drinks at lunch and three drinks at dinner in an effort to ‘clean up’ the island.
Spain is the number one destination for Irish holidaymakers, with more than three million people flocking there to bask in the sun and enjoy the social scene.
But for those who live there, the Balearic Islands have been hit by ‘gangs of young people’ who go to all-inclusive hotels to drink all day.
Travel expert Michelle Walsh Jackson said: ‘It’s been put in place by the local authorities because there have been incidents where people’s safety is at risk, with activities such as “balconing”. This is where people jump from balcony to balcony, which has led to accidents.’ She revealed that the legislation was being talked about two years ago but when Covid hit it was delayed.
Ms Walsh Jackson believes it will be strictly regulated too.
She said: ‘I imagine they will police it by giving out vouchers and the establishments are in serious trouble if they breach these rules. They will be fined anything between €6,000 and €60,000 so the hotel has to abide by that.’
Ms Walsh Jackson stressed that only a small number of hotels and areas are going to be affected with the 16 autonomous regions of Spain not impacted. She said: ‘This is purely for two islands in the Balearics. People are panicking and saying, “Oh my god I’m going to lose my all-inclusive, it’s going to cost me a fortune” – it’s like everything, people don’t wait to hear the facts.’
There have been two other rules introduced too.
Ms Walsh Jackson explained: ‘Premises cannot advertise pub crawling, two-for-one drinks and happy hours.’
She said this had been introduced due to overcrowding of young people in some regions.
The third rule is that alcohol will not be sold after 9.30pm in off-licences.
However, she said: ‘Anyone who has half a brain will buy their alcohol at 8pm or the next morning.’
Holidaymakers are being encouraged to check with their travel operator and read their contracts to find out if they have been affected.
One travel agent company told the Irish Daily Mail that no complaints have been received to date.
It said all-inclusive holidays tend to be more greatly sought after by British rather than Irish holidaymakers.
Thomas Cook customers recently received an email which read: ‘Please be advised that a decree has been issued by the Balearic Government on a new restriction for all-inclusive meal option.
‘There is a maximum of six
‘Only applies to certain areas’ ‘People’s safety is at risk’
alcoholic drinks per person per day that can be served and these drinks will be provided only during lunch and dinner (three each).’
A spokesperson for Cassidy Travel told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘It appears some of the measures introduced by the Balearic Islands authorities to limit antisocial behaviour have the potential to cause confusion for Irish holidaymakers.
‘So we welcome the recent clarification from the tourist board that the restrictions will only apply to certain limited areas rather than the whole of the Balearics islands, which are very popular Irish destinations.’