Balearics bring in booze ban

The Spanish islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera have introduced the prohibition of alcohol sales from 9.30pm each night in a bid to “correct uncivil attitudes”.

According to data from Spain’s tourism ministry, the Mediterranean archipelago received around 14 million visitors in 2023, putting it second in popularity to Catalonia (18m) as a Spanish holiday destination.

However, tourists hoping to have one for the road after a late dinner will have to be careful not to be caught out by a new law which bans the sale of alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am in some of the most-visited parts of the region.

Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia in Mallorca, and Sant Antonio in Ibiza, all popular spots for British tourists, have seen the ban implemented with immediate effect – the earliest the policy will be removed is the start of 2028.

Alcohol bought before the 9.30pm cutoff can still be consumed. Other measures introduced in the package include a clampdown on vandalism and public nudity.

Among the supporters of the policy is Jaime Martínez Llabrés, the mayor of Palma who was elected last year on a platform of cracking down on antisocial behaviour, expressed his hope to “correct uncivil attitudes” through prohibition, and he criticised the previous laws as being too “lax”.

Those that break these rules could be slapped with a fine of up to €3,000.

It might not just be a case of getting tourists to behave better either – the intention might be to deter certain would-be visitors from coming at all. Previous measures introduced include a six-drink-a-day limit for those on all-inclusive holidays. Pub crawls and happy hours have also been hit.

Martínez Llabrés has been open about his desire to see fewer youthful partygoers visiting Palma, preferring a more mature tourist.

A campaign by the city council of Amsterdam telling Brits intent on binge drinking to “stay away” seemed to have some success in discouraging visitors.