Balearics introduces street drinking ban as part of responsible tourism push
Harry KembleSpain’s Balearic Islands has expanded and toughened up laws on street drinking in a bid to crack down on alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour by tourists.
The region’s government has updated a law passed in 2020 designed to promote “responsible tourism and the improvement of the quality of tourist areas”.
People caught drinking alcohol in public in specific zones – including “small pockets” of Playa de Palma, the West End of Sant Antonio in Ibiza, Calvia (Magaluf) and S’Arenal (Llucmajor) – will now be fined. Penalties will range from €500 (£430) to €1,500 (£1,300).
This law change, which came into force on Saturday (11 May), does not apply to bars and terraces or legally enabled zones.
Party boats have also been banned from sailing within one nautical mile of any these destinations and vessels are banned from picking up and disembarking passengers in these areas.
In addition to these bans, the decree also states a maximum of €4 million per year from the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) must be allocated to the “affected municipalities”.
It means around €16 million will go towards financing projects to improve inspection, safety and awareness for responsible tourism in the specific areas outlined in the decree.
The region’s government opted to toughen up laws designed to tackle the over-consumption of alcohol introduced four years ago. The updated decree law is valid until 31 December 2027.
Luis Pomar, a press officer at the Balearics Islands tourism council, told the BBC the 2020 law to curb antisocial behaviour was working, adding he was hopeful the law would no longer be needed “in three to four years, if we instil in people how to behave".
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