Spain's Magaluf and Ibiza crack down on alcohol-fuelled holidays

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Tourists walk at Punta Ballena street in Magaluf, on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca, 13 June, 2015.Image copyright Reuters
Image caption Magaluf is a most traditional shuttle pronounce for younger holidaymakers

Spain’s Balearic Islands accept as true with handed a law banning pub crawls and pleased hours in three standard vacationer locations in a uncover to crack down on alcohol-fuelled holidays.

Restrictions apply to the vacationer hotspots of Playa de Palma and Magaluf in Majorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza.

The regional executive acknowledged it used to be the first law of its form in Europe.

Ibiza and Majorca accept as true with long been magnets for younger British, German and Irish vacationers.

The measures adopted on Friday are dazzling the most up-to-date effort by authorities to try and rein in heavy drinking on the Mediterranean islands.

However some merchants notify the switch might well per chance danger small corporations.

What are the new measures?

The new law encompasses a string of measures aimed toward cracking down on so-called “booze tourism”, the put guests are encouraged to binge drink.

Organised pub crawls can now now not be advertised or held in Playa de Palma, Magaluf or Ibiza’s West Discontinue.

The law also bans pleased hours and says occasion boats can now now not advertise within the three areas or protect halt up or fall off vacationers there.

Alcohol vending machines, free bars and adverts for alcoholic drinks are also forbidden, whereas authorities notify retailers selling alcohol need to halt from 21: 30 to 08: 00 (20: 30 to 07: 00 GMT).

The new regulations accept as true with also outlawed “balconing”, the put other folks jump from resort balconies, most ceaselessly into swimming pools. The apply has been linked to a replace of vacationer deaths and accidents. Authorities acknowledged those caught taking phase within the process would now be compelled to switch away their resort and might well per chance face fines.

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Media captionMagaluf balcony loss of life mother warns of descend risk

Native corporations caught violating the new law might well per chance face fines of as a lot as €600,000 (£510,000) or be shut down for as a lot as three years.

The regional executive acknowledged the law used to be the first in Europe to restrict the promotion and sale of alcohol in determined vacationer zones.

It acknowledged the new measures would “fight excesses” and “force an actual alternate within the tourism mannequin of those locations”.

However some complained that the law would danger the local financial system.

“I ranking this exaggerated and disproportionate,” Jose Tirado, president of Mallorca’s Tourism Products and providers and Companies Affiliation, advised Spain’s pronounce television

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