No beach or street drinking and fines of up to €3,000 under new rules to tackle excessive partyingMilo Boyd Digital Travel Editor and Commercial Content Lead, Sara Rountree Deputy Editor, Cork Beo and Anita McSorley

09:03, 04 May 2026

Punta Ballena Street, the Magaluf strip in Mallorca, Spain. (Image: Stock/David Ramos)

A travel expert has warned that tourists may face heavy fines for overdoing it on alcohol, as Spanish authorities crack down on ‘excessive partying’ during the busy summer holiday season.

Every year, more than 2.5 million Irish holidaymakers travel to Spain. The Balearic Islands of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are among the top destinations, but many residents of the sun-soaked islands are campaigning against the behaviour of rowdy tourists. Locals have begun to organise anti-tourism demonstrations, demanding action against soaring rental prices and overrun beaches in recent years.

Spanish authorities have imposed a crackdown on tourists and excessive alcohol consumption, particularly in the holiday hotspots of Magaluf and San Antonio, the Mirror reports. Breaking the rules will land tourists a sizeable fine, ranging anywhere from €500 up to €3,000. One major rule under the 2024 ‘Decree for Responsible Tourism’ is that it is now illegal to consume alcohol on the street. And alcohol limits are being introduced for many tourists on all-inclusive packages – with tourists limited to six drinks per day in the party resorts of Magaluf, Playa de Palma and San Antonio.

The Balearic law now forbids tourists from drinking alcohol on the streets and beaches, with penalties ranging from €750 to €3,000 for violations. Off-licence alcohol sales have also been clamped down on, with sales prohibited between 9.30 pm and 8 am in specific areas in a further attempt to limit street drinking and curb anti-social behaviour.

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has also issued a warning about alcohol in Spain. It said: “Alcoholic spirits are usually sold in significantly larger measures in bars and restaurants in Spain than in Ireland. Consumption of alcohol in public places, except licensed bars and restaurants, is generally not permitted and may result in a fine.”

Executive director of John Mason International, Simon Hood, has issued a warning to holidaymakers jetting off to party destinations like Majorca and Ibiza in the coming months. The travel expert has said that tourists should avoid public drinking and excessive noise at night to avoid penalties, with authorities planning stronger enforcement of key laws throughout the summer.

Simon has warned that anti-social behaviour from visitors will not be tolerated by the local authorities in the coming months, as they enforce stricter measures and potentially hand out sizeable fines to offenders. He explained: “In response to recent overtourism protests, the islands of Majorca and Ibiza have implemented Responsible Tourism rules following some understandable concern from local residents.

“These laws were first introduced in 2024; however, new amendments have recently been proposed that many tourists are unaware of. Be careful you’re not caught out taking alcoholic drinks onto the street and spilling them. Being overly loud and drawing attention to yourself will also land you in trouble more quickly.

“Holiday goers planning on booking all-inclusive packages or bar crawls are also affected by these laws. For example, limits on all-inclusive drinks have been introduced in the party resorts of Magaluf, Playa de Palma and San Antonio.

“If you have booked an all-inclusive package, you’re only allowed a maximum of six alcoholic drinks per day, and these must be split between your lunch and evening meal. Make sure you’re not going over your allowance and trying to cheat hotel staff. Hotels are allowed to charge you more money for breaking all-inclusive rules.”

Simon added: “At John Mason International, we always advise our clients to remain cautious and respect local rules and regulations. This Act hopes to crack down on excessive binge drinking, but it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a few pina coladas by the pool and have a great vacation – it just means you need to be cautious of your surroundings.

“These rules may seem strict, but they’re trying to promote harmony between local residents who want to go about their lives and tourists enjoying their holidays. If I can provide one piece of advice, it’s to have fun.”