Drinks limit imposed on all-inclusive by local rules in Ibiza

As of May 2022, some areas of Ibiza have enforced rules to restrict the amount of alcoholic drinks consumed at all-inclusive resorts, to 6 per day. The island, known for its party reputation, will now only serve customers 3 drinks during the lunchtime period and 3 during the evening. The rules do not apply to the whole of the island and have targeted the clubbing hotspots of San Antonio, which are located in the West End of Sant Antoni de Portmany Town.

The same regulations have already been in place on other Balearic Islands since January 2020, affecting locations in Mallorca such as Magaluf, El Arenal, Palma Nova and Playa de Palma. However, given the covid related restrictions on travel, Brits are unlikely to have noticed this in full yet. Two islands in the region have not signed on to the regulations: Menorca and Formentera. The rules also do not affect mainland Spain.

The rules also ban a number of alcohol related activities such as:

i) Happy hour

ii) Organised pub crawls

iii) Two for one offers

iv) Any unlimited alcohol offers commonly found at all-inclusive hotels

v) The sale of alcohol in shops between 9:30pm and 8am in specific areas

vi) The advertisement of party boats

The move is aimed to reduce the drunken tourism and anti-social behaviour often linked with alcohol on holiday. Those not abiding by the rules could face steep fines of between €60,001 and €600,000, which is enough to put anyone off their drink.

One rule of note in particular, is that banning people from jumping off balconies. Whilst it may seem common knowledge to most people, many accidents abroad have been caused by people either jumping or falling from balconies, leading to significant injuries. A person is unlikely to jump or fall from a balcony when sober, but if intoxicated, the likelihood may change. There is often a link between accidents abroad and alcohol consumption. Having alcohol naturally dampens anyone’s inhibitions and can make people more careless. This can significantly increase the likelihood of you being involved in an accident and therefore it is important to still be careful and pay attention to your surroundings when drinking abroad.

Whilst there will be many disgruntled tourists who will no longer be able to make the most of their all-inclusive holiday, it is arguable that this rule will reduce the number of accidents abroad and look out for the safety of other holidaymakers. If you are involved in an accident causing injury whilst you are intoxicated you may still be able to pursue legal claim. Alcohol intake is not normally a bar to pursuing a case, but the laws in many countries mean the Courts can take into account levels of alcohol, particularly when assessing if you are partly at fault, or contributorily negligent., If you would like advice about an accident, you have had abroad, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Finally, we realise people go on holiday to relax, unwind, and have a drink or two. Therefore, we have some tips for those going away with plans to drink cocktails in the sun:

i) Keep an eye on your friends if you are out in a group

ii) Keep your drinks covered to prevent any risk of being spiked

iii) Know what you are drinking

iv) Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know or trust

v) Know your limits

vi) Be aware of any sudden changes in the way your body feels

vii) Seek medical attention if you feel unwell or unsafe

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions in relation to this article or if you think you have a claim from an accident you have had whilst abroad. Our specialist Personal Injury Travel Abroad team would be happy to help.