Mallorca (Palma) to Crack Down on Bar Promotions and Outdoor Drinking

A popular destination in the Balearic Islands is about to tighten its approach towards excessive drinking. From 1 April, Palma de Mallorca will introduce new measures against bar promotions such as happy-hours and two-for-one deals.

The new restrictions will take place in the city’s areas of special touristic interest. The main locations will include Cala Major, Center, Paseo Maritimo and the entire Playa de Palma.

With the new rules in force, Bars and holidaymakers could be fined up to 3,000 euros for antisocial behaviour or causing a public nuisance.

Bars will be forbidden to ‘incite to consume alcohol’. meaning alcoholic drinks cannot be displayed on countertops as well as drink promotions. Bars in a small number of streets must also now ensure customers do not take drinks outside to drink on the street. The ban on outside drinking applies in the following streets: Carrer del Pare Bartomeu Salvà, Carrer del Llaüt and Carrer de les Canyes.

The BBC also reports on this issue stating:

Last year there were at least 15 cases of drunk tourists falling from balconies in Majorca - and in eight cases the falls were fatal. Most involved British tourists in Magaluf.

In Palma, Ms Wilms told the BBC, “local people have been complaining for years that something has to be done”.

“The problem is drunken tourists gathering and fighting in the street - locals wake up and see vomit, litter, broken glass.”

The new measures follow the recent summit in Mallorca on excessive alcohol consumption by holidaymakers. Local authorities are now consulting another suggestion coming from the summit. The attendees have raised a proposal to limit alcohol consumption at all inclusive hotels.