New alcohol restrictions came into play this week for British tourists visiting Ibiza, an extension of a law that's been affecting visitors to the Balearic Islands since January 2020.
After many tourists found themselves restricted to just six drinks a day on their all-inclusive holiday, we've looked into why this law came into place and how much it will affect traveller's holidays.
In a bid to shake the party stereotype, the Balearic Islands government approved a decree law in early 2020 to combat alcohol overuse and create a more wholesome reputation for its destinations. The aim is to set the archipelago as a pioneer destination in combating excesses and create a more sustainable and respectful tourism model.
Read more: TUI send out important passport warning to anyone who has booked a holiday this year
The law, that was defended and requested by many institutions and businesses on the islands, will initially be in place until 2025 and is limited to the specific areas of Playa de Palma, El Arenal, Magaluf, the West End of Sant Antoni de Portmany, and now Ibiza. The local authorities feel there are specific topics that need to be tackled in order to reverse degradation and any negative impact that party tourism has had.
Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know about the law before travelling to the Balearic Islands:
Restricted alcohol
The news that all inclusive holidays are restricted to just six glasses of alcohol a day has angered many holidaymakers, however the alcohol restrictions go far beyond this.
The six-drink rule for all-inclusive properties within Playa de Palma, El Arenal, Magaluf, the West End of Sant Antoni de Portmany, and Ibiza, specifies that visitors are limited to three alcoholic beverages during the lunch timetable and three during the evening timetable, meaning consumers have less of a say when it comes to enjoying their pre-paid beverages.
Holidaymakers are further controlled as open-bars, happy hours and the like are prohibited, as well as any advertising that encourages alcohol consumption in tourism establishments. Visitors will also find that self-service dispensers and off-licenses will remain closed between 9.30pm and 8am everyday.
No jumping from balconies
Although the decree law only affects certain areas of the archipelago, this clause is in place across every island. There is a ban on dangerous activities and health practises, such as jumping between balconies, across all of the Balearic Islands.
Anyone who takes part in any such activities will be expelled immediately from the establishment and the event will be treated as a serious offence, both for those who are directly involved and for those bystanders who allow it to take place.
Goodbye to pub-crawls and party boats
This set of rules will come as a unwanted surprise for many British stag and hen dos who are looking to celebrate the occasion and overindulge. As of 2020, the law prohibits the organisation, advertisement and sale of tickets for any pub crawl event or so-called ' alcohol route' in any of the areas affected by the bill.
This limitation on events extends to those at sea. Party boats can no longer be advertised in Playa de Palma, El Arenal, Magaluf, the West End of Sant Antoni de Portmany, or Ibiza. To add to this, these types of excursions will be banned from picking up or returning holidaymakers in these areas.
Hefty fines
Last but not least, those who break the rules will find themselves paying some very high fines. The law encompasses a sanction regime that places a special emphasis on serious and very serious offences for both tourists and venues.
LOTUS, the tourist board that represents the Balearic Islands in the United Kingdom and Ireland, considers serious offences as: " Dangerous practices that pose a risk or question the integrity or health of the individual (for the tourist), as well as a lack of information expressly to customers about risks (for venues); the non-expulsion of clients who carry out dangerous practices (for venues/ establishment s); offer rooms on an hourly basis, advertise alcoholic beverages amongst other aspects."
Those who take part in any of the above will be penalised with fines of between 6,001 to 60,000 euros.
The law recognises very serious offences as those that only affect venues and establishments (not individuals) and LOTUS notes that these offences "include the sale of alcoholic beverages after hours allowed; offer alcoholic beverages in open bars, happy hours or 2x1 and 3x1 offers; keep alcohol dispensers; sell alcohol to minors; advertise or conduct pub-crawls/alcohol excursions or commit two serious offences in six months, amongst other circumstances."
These offences can incur fines of 60,001 to 600,000 euros as well as the closure of the establishment for up to three years.
Visitors can face a fine between 1,000 and 6,000 euros if they take part in any other offence mentioned previously and this will be considered a minor offence.
What's new in Ibiza?
On May 4, 2022, The Government of the Balearic Islands, in collaboration with the British embassy, added Ibiza to their joint campaign to promote the Balearic Islands as a safe destination in the United Kingdom, as well as zero tolerance against uncivil behaviour this season.
With the new addition of Ibiza, the authorities have launched a ' Stick with your Mates' campaign, which will be rolled out from June 1 to August 31, 2022 and will target young visitors through a series of short videos and digital images on Instagram and Facebook.
LOTUS h as said the campaign will " encourages young British holidaymakers to have a holiday to remember, rather than one to forget, providing them with tips and advice on how to take care of one another and help avoid serious accidents while on vacation."
