Magaluf ditches strict drinking rules ‘by 90%’

A string of strict drinking rules introduced to curb binge drinking in Magaluf have been eased amid early signs that UK tourists may be turning down the resort for other destinations.

Magaluf, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, has eased its strict “excess tourism” rules that were put in place to curb disorderly behaviour. But earlier this month, locals reduced the decree by 90%.

The rules, which include a ban on drinking outside licensed areas and tough restrictions around alcohol promotions, are almost confined to Punta Ballena – better known as the ‘Magaluf strip’.

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The Partido Popular and Vox, who are known to be in power in Calvia, were responsible for reducing the restricted area, claiming it was good for business.

In a joint statement the two political formations stated: “PP and Vox defend tourism businesses against attempts by socialists to damage the image of the municipality. The City Hall is committed to positioning Magaluf as a safe and quality tourist destination.

“Socialists want to maintain the stigma of bars, restaurants and supermarkets, causing harm to a large area. Socialists want the righteous to pay for the sinners.”

Alfonso Rodriguez, former mayor of Calvia, said the rule change sent the wrong message in the fight against drunken tourism and could make the situation worse. Now the Spanish government’s representative for the Balearic Islands region, Mr Rodriquez, has said that Calvia Council has decided to reduce the area covered by a recently amended regional government decree of “responsible tourism” to “just 10%” of the area it previously covered .

It still includes the Punta Ballena party strip, described by one of its predecessors as “500 meters of shame”. He added: “We think this is going in a different direction to what we are committed to, where we are asking for the cooperation of the entire tourism industry and the public sector to combat the excesses that we are seeing.

“The last few tourist seasons have been successful, both 2022 and 2023, and I fear that changing this area could send a message in the opposite direction to where we were going.”

The change will be seen as pro-business and comes after pub owners and holidaymakers told the Mirror that a doubling of prices in some venues meant once-cheap resorts were now beyond some holidaymakers’ budgets.

Mr Rodriquez was speaking at an event on Wednesday where police chiefs presented their summer reinforcements at an official launch at the Civil Guard headquarters in Magaluf. It was confirmed at the event that the drones will be part of the peak season operation to help keep British and Irish tourists safe.

The tightening of regional government restrictions were announced last month as part of changes to a 2020 decree introduced to curb some of the worst tourism excesses in parts of Mallorca and Ibiza. The changes include fines of up to £1,300 for tourists caught drinking on the street and the forced closing of shops selling alcohol at night.

The PSOE party – which introduced the decree in 2020 – is now in opposition in Calvia’s town hall, as it is in the Balearic parliament, Majorca Daily Bulletin reported. The party’s spokesman said this week: “The message being sent with this 90% discount is the opposite of the one that was winning the fight against excess tourism in Magaluf.

“Shops are being told they can sell alcohol again at night; bars that they can flip on aggressive offers like 2 for 1 or 3 for 1; and all-inclusive hotels for which the supply of alcohol will not be limited”.

A recent survey by the Majorca Daily Bulletin found that around 44% of those surveyed might reconsider booking a holiday on the popular island following massive demonstrations and protests against mass tourism by British and German tourists.

However, the study found that about 55 percent of the more than 650 respondents were not deterred by the protesters. Images emerged last week of deserted beaches in the popular resort of Magaluf.

Pictures of the beach and strip taken in Majorca at half-term suggest the sunny island may be a little quieter than usual for this time of year.

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