Mallorca: Party venues ban alcohol consumption on the street

In the tourist area on Mallorca, known by German holidaymakers as “Ballermann”, it will no longer be allowed to drink alcohol on the street or on the beach. The regional government of the Balearic Islands announced the ban on Friday in Palma de Mallorca.

It applies not only to Playa de Palma, but also to other party zones on Mallorca and Ibiza, where so-called drinking tourism has recently become increasingly worse despite various measures.

The ban is due to come into force in the next few days. Vacationers and locals who are caught with an open beer can on the beach or on public property, for example, face fines of between 500 and 1,500 euros.

The Mallorcan hoteliers’ association FEHM welcomed the authorities’ tougher crackdown: The aim was to prevent “uncivilized tourism” in the affected areas.

Fighting excess drinking

On Mallorca, the ban affects parts of the municipalities of Palma and Llucmajor with the German holiday stronghold Playa de Palma east of the island’s capital and the British party zone Magaluf west of Palma. It also applies to Sant Antoni de Portmany on Ibiza.

Terraces of bars and restaurants as well as other places expressly permitted for the consumption of alcohol are exempt from the ban. Alcohol can still be served on the numerous party boats.

To combat excessive drinking, the regional government in Palma last put together a legislative package in 2020. This is now being tightened.

Previously, only drinking parties, i.e. drinking alcohol in a group, were prohibited on the street, although the maximum number of people was not defined. Now it is no longer allowed to drink alcohol on the street or on the beach, even if you are traveling alone.