Magaluf proposes ban on all-inclusive holidays that include alcohol in bid to tackle antisocial behaviour
A proposal to ban “free” alcohol as part of all-inclusive holiday packages has been made in the popular party destination of Magaluf.
Concerns about alcohol-related antisocial behaviour have led to Calvià council calling for the ban at a meeting this week.
Dropping visitor numbers to the Mallorcan resort have resulted in officials taking action to try and improve the area’s tawdry reputation. Travel agents are also reported to have seen a 49 per cent drop in searches for trips to the region.
Eradicating “drunkenness tourism” is a key factor in attracting tourists back to a newly cleaned-up Magaluf, council officials have said.
A council spokesperson told The Independent: “The Town Hall of Calvià is taking measures, from the beginning of the legislature, to put a halt to drunkenness tourism whose culture is basically the excessive consumption of alcohol, that comes from aggressive offers made by some bars and establishments.
“One of the actions that has been carried out is to request that the all-inclusive offer is regulated in the sense that it ought to include quality parameters, and that the consumption of free alcohol is eliminated.
“The mayor of Calvià has submitted this request, but the law has not yet been modified.
“An information campaign for hotel and leisure establishments has taken place, reminding them of the responsibilities they have when serving alcoholic beverages to their customers.”
The move is part of an ongoing effort to clean up the hedonistic holiday hotspot and follows a raft of 64 laws that Calvià council introduced last year to try and stamp out anti-social behaviour.
These include no defecating, urinating or spitting in public places, a ban on sexual relations in a public place or anywhere visible from public places and for bar and café owners not to serve anyone who is already drunk.
Calvià council does not have the power to ban “free” alcohol, but it is able to lobby the Balearic government.
Ahead of the peak months of July and August, local police have put up 20 signs warning of the consequences of breaking local laws. The Majorca Daily Bulletin reports that 15 have appeared along Punta Ballena in Magaluf and five on Ramon de Montcada in Santa Ponsa.
As the party winds down, Malia is predicted to take over Magaluf’s title for party destination du jour, with Party Hard Travel confirming a 400 per cent increase in bookings to the area since last year.
