Spanish Islands Tighten Restrictions on Party, Fine Offenders €500-1,500

The Balearic Islands of Spain are implementing stricter regulations on public drinking and further limiting party boats to control the impact of alcohol-fueled holidays in tourist areas. 

The updated law, effective from Saturday, will target popular destinations such as Playa de Palma and Magaluf in Majorca, and Sant Antoni in Ibiza. 

Those found drinking outside designated areas will face fines ranging from €500-1,500 (£430-1290), with a focus on enforcing penalties for foreign offenders. 

The new legislation also prohibits party boats from approaching within one nautical mile of specified areas, continuing the ban on passenger pick-up and drop-off.

The Balearic Islands tourism council aims to invest €16 million (£13.7m) in improving heavily visited areas, while also expanding a commission focused on promoting respectful behavior in tourist zones to include representatives from the UK and Germany. 

The 2020 law prohibits the sale of alcohol between 21:30 and 08:00 local time (20:30-07:00 GMT), marking the Balearic Islands as the first in Europe to implement such restrictions in specific tourist regions.