New Majorca bar and restaurant rules as UK tourists ask 'who came up with this'

UK tourists have asked "whoever came up with it?" after being told they face new rules at Majorca bars and restaurants. European Union holiday hotspot Majorca has been slapped with strict new guidance from the Spanish government, it has emerged.

The government has presented the draft of new legislation for the prevention of alcohol consumption in the Balearic Islands. Included in this proposed bill is a ban on the advertising/promotion of alcohol products within 200 metres of areas frequented by under-18s.

The Majorcan bar and restaurant sector believes that this will have a significant impact. César Amable is president of the restaurants association within the Pimem federation of small to medium-sized business associations.

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He told the Majorca Daily Bulletin: "San Miguel sets the tables for me and it's a fortune." He estimates that each table with four chairs can cost around 250 euros. Terrace umbrellas are one of the most obvious signs.

"When it comes to prohibition, the restaurant trade is always implicated," he said. The sector argues that prevention should be through education and not bans on publicity material. "In the end a young person is going to do what he or she wants," it said.

The Balearic government's health ministry is in favour and supports the need to keep "vulnerable children and adolescents away from toxic substances" but adds that there is "the duty to listen to all affected entities", it says.

"So what difference will it make other than the booze makers being unable to give away free tables and chairs to advertise their own make of booze. We all know what bar sell," said a Brit in reply. "They don’t advertise for drugs but that is a booming business. Whoever came up with this idea has no idea how the bar restaurant businesss exist, go to the beach and leave the working class alone," a second sniped.

Another said: "What a pity! My chihuahua loves his daily vitamin of a sip of Estrella Galicia; so now there will also be restrictions of advertising near dogparks? 200 meters?"