UK holidaymakers in Spain are issued £500 clothing warning as Euros start

Experts are warning Brits visiting Spain that they risk being fined up to £500 for breaking new public rules this summer as the Euros are set to kick off.

Tourists risk being fined for smoking, drinking and wearing their football shirts, warn travel insurance experts at One Sure Insurance. Reports show Spanish authorities are clamping down with fines for wearing unsuitable clothes as well as tightening alcohol regulations in some popular Spanish locations.

The UK Foreign Office has issued warnings to travellers asking them to adhere to foreign laws or risk penalties. A spokesperson at One Sure insurance explains, “As the Euros kick off this month, we are seeing increasing numbers of British tourists head to their holiday destinations to enjoy matches in the sun. This has meant increasing bans on specific clothing items including football shirts and novelty wear to promote a more respectful environment.

“Majorca has seen multiple restaurants targeting clothes associated with drunken tourism. We’ve also seen that wearing just a bikini or being bare chested with swimming shorts away from the beach could land tourists fines worth up to £500 in various locations.”

Alcohol consumption is also being restricted by local laws in Majorca, Magaluf (Calvia), Playa de Palma, Ibiza, and San Antonio (San Antoni de Portmany) in resort areas. Happy hours with discounted drinks, open bars (such as all-you-can-drink deals), alcohol vending machines, self-service alcohol dispensers, pub-crawls, party boat trips, and off-licence alcohol sales between 9:30 PM and 8:00 AM have been prohibited.

There are also multiple areas enforcing fines for smoking in public spaces such as beaches and restaurant terraces of up to €2,000 (approximately £1,700). Having an alcoholic drink on the beach can lead to a £650 fine, and throwing cigarette butts or litter from a moving vehicle can land a fine of 4 points and 200 euros.

Holiday goers are also at risk of fines for dangerous behaviour on the balcony, where the Foreign Office has advised that hotels and other establishments are obliged to evict customers who behave dangerously on balconies.

Local marine wildlife conservation efforts have led to the introduction of a £560 fine for using soap or shampoo at the beach when rinsing off. Commenting on the fines, experts at One Sure Insurance added, “We are urging all travellers to familiarise themselves with these regulations before departing to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday experience.”