Irish tourists are among those being "caught out" by a "sneaky" new Spain drinking law affecting all-inclusive holidays.
Spanish officials have sparked outrage by enforcing a 'six drinks per day' rule for all-inclusive holidays and in resorts on islands including Ibiza and Majorca.
The new law, which affects some hotels in the Balearic Islands, means that holidaymakers are forced to pay extra if they want more than three free alcoholic drinks per meal.
READ MORE: Irish tourists heading to Spain hit with draconian new drinking law that will surprise many
One man, who took an all-inclusive trip to Majorca to celebrate his cousin's birthday earlier this week, told how he was left "angry and upset" by the rules.
Jason Walker, 42, told Wales Online how he paid £240 (€285) for his three-night trip with travel operator Love Holiday, which he assumed had entitled him to as much food and drink as he wanted.
But when the security officer arrived on the beautiful Mediterranean island, he was stunned to find out that there were limits on his free booze consumption. Spanish officials first announced the new law in January but its has caught out hundreds of holidaymakers who are now arriving in the islands.
Jason is urging holidaymakers jetting off to similar Spanish resorts over the summer to check their small print or face incurring hefty drinks costs without warning. He said: “We only found out when we checked in and only budgeted so much because thought all our food and drink would be covered.
“We were very upset and angry. We’ve come as a family of eight to celebrate my cousin’s 40th and while we have still had a good time, we have incurred extra costs as a result.”
Local authorities in Spain introduced the booze ban in January this year, which affects certain resort areas of the Balearic Islands, including Palma, Ibiza and Magaluf. The new law - which states “alcoholic drinks will be limited to six per day” - is part of a package of measures designed to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
These are also believed to include bans on pub crawls, happy hours and two-for-one drinks offers, which are all being enforced by hefty fines. Jason, from Blackburn in Lancashire, said he understood the government is trying to stop yobbish drinking behaviour, but he believes the new rules need to be better advertised.
He said: “I understand they are trying to stem alcohol abuse and rowdy behaviour, but I think this has been done very sneakily – I was not made aware of it and didn’t know about the law. We are also here as a family and all-inclusive is great for families as you don’t have to worry about budgeting for food and drink.”
Jason called on travel operators to give holidaymakers more information about how their trips might be affected by the draconian laws. He also believes that holidays where a three drink per meal rule is in place are being mislabelled and shouldn't be branded as “all-inclusive”.
He said: “I have looked at the small print and the alcoholic drink rule is there, so I don’t think it should be sold as an all-inclusive holiday, it should be sold as half-board or something along those lines. If you are booking an all-inclusive holiday, I recommend that you look at the small print and see what is actually included and what’s not because the rules have changed.”
Holidaymakers writing on social media have reacted furiously to the new laws, which many feel have not been widely publicised. One Twitter user believed that inclusive holidays with booze limits should be marketed as “half-board” - and called for hotel contracts where this wasn’t clearly stated to be ripped up.
He said: “Holidaymakers will now be restricted to just six drinks a day, which can only be accessed alongside their lunch and dinner - offering them a mere three drinks per meal. [That’s] usually referred to as 'Half Board Plus'. It's time to cancel the hotel contracts for All Inclusive basis.”
Ireland’s leading travel writer Eoghan Corry told the Irish Sunday Mirror that the resorts had no alternative because of growing drink-fuelled disorder.
He said: “It’s been a runaway problem at all-inclusive resorts for many years. What’s happened is that a small number come and try and get boozed.
“It tends not to be the cost of it that they look at, it’s the disorder that can result.”
He added that some Irish holidaymakers might be surprised at the rule, adding that all-inclusive deals might soon be a thing of the past.
“It should have been better flagged but you have to remember it’s at the cheaper end of the all-inclusive business that you find this. It’s not really at the premium end. All-inclusive is controversial anyway because tourist boards don’t like it as it keeps people in the resort and doesn’t get them out to the local hotels and bars.
“Certainly in Europe, all-inclusive is becoming less and less a thing.”
Travel operator Thomas Cook recently alerted their customers to the crack down on free booze through an email.
They said: "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 alcoholic drinks per person per day that can be served and these drinks will be provided only during lunch and dinner ( 3 each).
"Please be aware that Magalluf, El Arenal, Playa de Palma in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza, there is new restriction on All Inclusive."
Love Holidays, which sold the all inclusive holiday to Jason, has been approached for comment.
READ MORE: Ireland weather: Four-week summer scorcher incoming as Met Eireann confirm exact date 20C blast hits
READ MORE: Katie Taylor’s family life from father fallout to lavish US home to relationship controversy
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
