Spain’s Balearic Islands ban happy hours, limit alcohol sales and outlaw ‘balconing’ in crackdown on British tourists

• The regulations were passed on Friday in an attempt to tackle binge-drinking
• Magaluf, Mallorca’s Playa de Palma and Ibiza’s Sant Antoni will all be affected 
• Some traders have already said the measures would hurt small businesses

Spain’s Balearic Islands are banning happy hours, limiting alcohol sales and outlawing ‘balconing’ in a crackdown on British tourists.

The regulations were passed on Friday in an attempt to tackle binge-drinking in the holiday hot spots.  

Pub crawl tours, alcoholic vending machines, party boats, free bars and adverts for alcoholic drinks have all been banned in Magaluf, Mallorca’s Playa de Palma and Ibiza’s Sant Antoni.

Spain’s Balearic Islands passed regulations on Friday to ban happy hours, limit alcohol sales and outlaw ‘balconing’ in a crackdown on British tourists. Pictured: Playa de Palma, Mallorca

Tourists will also not be allowed to buy alcohol in these areas between 9pm and 8am.

The practice of revellers jumping off balconies and into hotel swimming pools, known as ‘balconing’, which has killed dozens of drunken visitors was also outlawed.

Anyone caught will be expelled from their hotel and could be fined up to €60,000 (£51,124). 

Some traders have already said that the measures would hurt small businesses on the Mediterranean islands. Pictured: Magaluf

Iago Negueruela, the regional official in charge of economy and tourism, said: ‘With this, the Balearic Islands become the first destination in Europe to fight back against tourism based on excess.’ 

Some traders have already said that the measures would hurt small businesses on the Mediterranean islands. 

The president of Mallorca’s Tourism Services and Businesses Association, Jose Tirado, told Spain’s state television: ‘I find this exaggerated and disproportionate.’

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