Yahoo News New Spain alcohol laws and where they apply as holidaymakers warned over fines
Tourists are being warned about fines of up to £1,300 if they break new alcohol rules in Spain.
Authorities have introduced tougher laws in a crackdown on alcohol consumption and antisocial behaviour in Spain’s Balearic Islands. The restrictions will result in fines for those caught drinking in the street outside designated areas, while shops will also be limited on when they can sell alcohol.
The laws, which came into force earlier this month, cover popular tourist destinations in Majorca and Ibiza, including Magaluf. It’s a toughening of laws which were first introduced in 2020, which limited the sale and availability of alcohol in various resorts.
Under the 2020 laws, bar crawls are banned in the designated areas, along with happy hours and open bar offers, reports the Manchester Evening News. In the new crackdown, shops will no longer be able to sell alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am. However, this will not apply to bars, clubs and restaurants. More information about the rules is given below.
Where the new laws apply
Llucmajor, Palma, Calvia (Magaluf) in Majorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza. The new restrictions affect party boats, too, as they will not be allowed to operate within one nautical mile of the designated areas.
What are the new laws?
People are now banned from drinking in the street within the designated areas. You can still drink in the terraces of bars or restaurants in legally authorised areas. The new laws also reinforce those introduced in 2020, which covered happy hours, bar offers, party boats and the ban on shops selling alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am.
The fines
The new laws will be imposed with fines €500-1,500 (£430-1290). The number of sanctions against foreign visitors will be recorded and reported to their respective embassies. Having come into force on May 11 this year, the new ban is set to remain in place until December 31, 2027.
What the UK Foreign Office says
In its guidance for Spain, the UK Foreign Office warns travellers that they could face “on-the-spot fines”. It says: “It’s illegal to drink alcohol in the street in some areas of Spain. You can get an on-the-spot fine. There are strict controls on drinking and sexual activity in public places, including on beaches.”
