Spain's party islands have had enough of rowdy tourists; ban alcohol sales at night

The Balearic Islands enact a ban on alcohol sales from 9.30pm to 8am in a bid to combat excessive drinking and rowdiness in tourist hotspots like Mallorca and Ibiza. The new regulations target specific areas and enforce penalties up to €3,000 for ...

By ET Online | Updated: May 13, 2024, 11.15 AM IST

The Balearic Islands, including popular destinations like Mallorca and Ibiza, are taking decisive action to address issues of excessive drinking and rowdiness in holiday hotspots. According to reports from the Sun, the local government has voted to impose a complete ban on alcohol sales from 9.30pm to 8am, aiming to tackle problems associated with tourism.

Effective immediately, this prohibition seeks to mitigate the impact of excessive tourism, with specific measures targeting areas like Llucmajor, Palma, Calvia (Magalluf), and Sant Antoni in Ibiza. Alongside the alcohol ban, party boats are prohibited from operating within one nautical mile of these towns or picking up passengers from them.

These new regulations supplement previous measures implemented in 2020, which restricted activities such as happy hours, pub crawls, and two-for-one drink promotions. Jaime Martínez, the mayor of Palma, expressed hope that these laws would address inappropriate behavior.

Penalties for violating the alcohol ban range from €1,500 to €3,000 (£1,290 to £2,580), underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are approaching the issue. These efforts come in the wake of similar protests in the Canary Islands, where residents have called for stricter regulations to safeguard their communities from the adverse effects of tourism.

In Ibiza, the activist group Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza) is mobilizing locals to protest on May 24, advocating for further restrictions on tourism to protect the integrity of the island. With these measures, the Balearic Islands are taking proactive steps to address concerns surrounding tourism and promote a more sustainable approach to hospitality.

These popular destinations are fed up of tourists, and are taking steps to keep them in check

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In recent years, over-tourism has become a growing concern for many popular travel destinations worldwide. Cities and regions traditionally known for attracting millions of visitors each year are now taking proactive measures to curb the negative impacts of overwhelming tourism.

Here's a look at some destinations that are fed up with excessive tourists and the steps they are taking to manage the influx.