A kick in the Balearics for boozy Brits: Tourists face £1,300 fine for street drinking in Ibiza and Majorca in new war on fun-loving holidaymakers

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  • Revellers can be charged €500 (£430) to €1,500 (£1,292) for public drinking
  • Applies to Mallorca’s Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia, & Ibiza’s Sant Antoni

British tourists can now be fined up to £1,300 for drinking in the street in Spanish party hotspots as the war on rowdy visitors ramps up.

From today, boozy Brits looking to consume alcohol in public face being slapped with a penalty between €500 (£430) and €1,500 (£1,292) thanks to new legislation passed in some of the most beloved holiday destinations. 

The Balearic regional government has imposed the new rules, which build on similar laws passed in 2020, in Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia (home to Magaluf) in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza – some of the most popular party hubs in Europe.

The fresh clampdown on so-called low quality tourism also sees a ban on party boats, much loved by touring Brits, coming within one nautical mile (1.852 km) of the affected areas after 9.30pm.

It will also remain against the law for the vessels to pick up or drop off revellers at these spots.

British tourists can now be fined up to ¿1,500 for drinking in the street in Ibiza (pictured) and Mallorca

British tourists can now be fined up to €1,500 for drinking in the street in Ibiza (pictured) and Mallorca

Tourists pictured dancing at an Ibiza nightclub. From today, boozy Brits looking to consume alcohol in public face being slapped with a penalty between ¿500 (£430) and ¿1,500 (£1,292) thanks to new legislation passed in some of the most beloved holiday destinations

Tourists pictured dancing at an Ibiza nightclub. From today, boozy Brits looking to consume alcohol in public face being slapped with a penalty between €500 (£430) and €1,500 (£1,292) thanks to new legislation passed in some of the most beloved holiday destinations

People pictured dancing while drinking in a pool at a nightclub in Ibiza

People pictured dancing while drinking in a pool at a nightclub in Ibiza

The ban was introduced by the government of the Balearic Islands in a bid to crack down on so-called low quality tourism and will be enforced until at least December 2027 (pictured: drinkers at The Punta Ballena Strip in Magaluf)

The ban was introduced by the government of the Balearic Islands in a bid to crack down on so-called low quality tourism and will be enforced until at least December 2027 (pictured: drinkers at The Punta Ballena Strip in Magaluf)

Shops in these tourist hotspots have been banned from selling alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am since 2020 as part of legislation that the regional government claimed was the first of its kind.

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Balearics battle against British tourists: Menorca holiday village threatens to ban ALL visitors after authorities announced an alcohol ban in popular resorts in Mallorca and Ibiza

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Now lawmakers have pushed the crackdown on late night booze sales further by forcing stores to close at 9.30pm when they previously would only have to shut their alcohol counter.

Rules have already been in place banning public drinking in certain popular holiday destinations across the Balearic islands but the latest measures represent a tightening of existing laws and the potential for increased fines.

The original alcohol measures, which were passed in 2020, saw restrictions on the number of free drinks that package holidays could offer, as well as new rules on public nudity and climbing across hotel balconies. 

The new laws will be enforced until at least December 2027.

The strict new rules in some of the busiest spots for British tourists come after a Menorca holiday village, currently soaring in popularity, threatened to ban rowdy Brits completely.

Binibeca Vell, dubbed the ‘Spanish Mykonos’, is set to receive one million tourists this year after its popularity boomed on social media.

 

Tourists seen walking on the street in Magaluf. Shops in tourist hotspots like Magaluf have been banned from selling alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am since 2020 as part of legislation that the regional government claimed was the first of its kind

Tourists seen walking on the street in Magaluf. Shops in tourist hotspots like Magaluf have been banned from selling alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am since 2020 as part of legislation that the regional government claimed was the first of its kind

Tourists pictured dancing at the popular Punta Ballena strip in Magaluf in June 2019

Tourists pictured dancing at the popular Punta Ballena strip in Magaluf in June 2019

Public drinking can land tourists a heavy fine in Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza. Meanwhile Binibeca Vell in Menorca is considering banning rowdy tourists altogether after a string of incidents

Public drinking can land tourists a heavy fine in Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza. Meanwhile Binibeca Vell in Menorca is considering banning rowdy tourists altogether after a string of incidents 

But locals have hit back at bad behaviour from visitors with one claiming ‘they went into homes’, ‘sat on chairs’ and ‘climb on our walls’.

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Late-night drinking and eating could be SCRAPPED in Spain as nation looks to bring in earlier closing times for bars and restaurants, to the dismay of British tourists

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The fishing village, which is famous for its unusual whitewashed walls, previously told tourists to only visit between 11am and 8pm so they could enjoy their breakfasts.

In a post on the village’s website, locals also asked vistors to refrain from ‘entering homes’ and ‘climbing balconies’.

The message included a series of pictures showing one tourist splayed out on a stairwell and another sitting in a chair belonging to one of the locals.

Óscar Monge, who runs a group representing Binibeca Vell’s 195 property owners, told the Guardian: ‘Binibeca Vell is not a place of adventure, but it’s a private housing development where people reside.’ 

‘If the administration continues to leave us abandoned, in August we’ll carry out a vote among owners on whether we should close up the development,’ he added.

Óscar Monge, who runs a group representing Binibeca Vell’s 195 property owners, told the Guardian: ‘Binibeca Vell is not a place of adventure, but it’s a private housing development where people reside.’

Mr Monge explained that the main problem is the Spanish authorities who residents believe are not doing enough to tackle the issues with tourists.

Binibeca Vell, which is popular with Brits, is set to receive one million tourists this year after its popularity boomed on social media

Binibeca Vell, which is popular with Brits, is set to receive one million tourists this year after its popularity boomed on social media

In a post on the village's website, locals also asked vistors to refrain from 'entering homes' and 'climbing balconies'

In a post on the village’s website, locals also asked vistors to refrain from ‘entering homes’ and ‘climbing balconies’

Locals have complained about the bad behaviour of visitors with one claiming 'they went into homes', 'sat on chairs' and 'climb on our walls'

Locals have complained about the bad behaviour of visitors with one claiming ‘they went into homes’, ‘sat on chairs’ and ‘climb on our walls’

Last year, residents began to hit back, requesting tourists only visit the fishing village - which is famous for its whitewashed walls - between 11am and 8pm

Last year, residents began to hit back, requesting tourists only visit the fishing village – which is famous for its whitewashed walls – between 11am and 8pm

Begoña Mercadal, head of tourism for Menorca told the El Diario newspaper that residents would be able to close their village to tourists if they wished.

She said: ‘We fully acknowledge that it is private property and, therefore, if they want to close it, that is their right.’

Binibeca Vell residents were given £12,850 by the government last year to help deal with rubbish removal but the deal has not been renewed.