Yahoo News The strict alcohol laws tourists visiting Spain need to be aware of or face fines
Spain is one of the top holiday destinations for UK holidaymakers thanks to its glorious weather, stunning beaches and short flight times. While the country is a familiar holiday destination for many Brits, there are some rules in place surrounding alcohol which you may not be aware of.
When it comes to alcohol consumption, Spanish laws can be different compared to those in the UK. It’s important that you know what the rules are as otherwise you could receive a heft fine and get into trouble with the local authorities.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office there are several laws relating to alcohol in different parts of Spain that UK travellers need to know. One rule relates to drinking alcohol in the street.
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The FCDO says: “You cannot drink alcohol in the street in some areas of Spain. You can be given an on-the-spot fine.” It added: “There are strict controls on drinking and sexual activity in public places, including on beaches.”
There are different alcohol laws in place in the Balearic Islands of Majorca and Ibiza, including areas of some resorts such as Magaluf, Playa de Palma (both Majorca) and the Ibiza resort of San Antonio.
According to the FCDO, these laws prohibit the following in the above resorts:
happy hours
open bars (such as all you can drink in 1-hour offers)
the sale of alcohol from vending machines
self-service alcohol dispensers
the organising of pub-crawls and party boat trips
‘off-licence’ sales between 9:30pm and 8am
Holidaymakers are warned to make sure they behave safely as they could be evicted from their accommodation due to ‘dangerous behaviour on balconies. The FCDO added: “Hotels and other establishments are obliged to evict customers who behave dangerously on balconies. Both the customer and the establishment can be fined for such behaviour.”
