Six-drink limit, sandcastles ban & ID check – Little-known Spain hol rules that could cost YOU €3k amid protest chaos

The Irish Sun

a day ago

BOOZING on the beach, participating in pub crawl's and strolling shirtless through the streets are popular activities amongst Irish tourists jetting off to relax or party in Spain.
But as
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Building sandcastles may get you in some trouble in some areas
Credit: Getty Images
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Irish tourists have been urged to stay clear of any protests
Credit: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti
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Walking around without a shirt on could leave you facing a €600 fine (Stock Picture)
Credit: Alamy
The sunshine spot has been
And locals claiming their homes have been turned into playgrounds for tourists has put pressure on the government to set strict rules in place that put a stop to unruly tourist behaviour.
The new regulations could affect some of the nearly three million or so Irish punters expected to visit the hotspot this year.
And any rule breakers could be hit with whopping fines of up to €3,000.
Irish tourists heading to popular Spanish sunshine spots will now need to be more cautious about how and where they drink.
Public drinking in Llucmajor, Palma, and Magaluf, along with Sant Antoni in Ibiza, is banned - unless it takes place in clearly designated areas approved by authorities.
And the rule extends out to sea, covering party boats operating within one nautical mile of those towns.
Those who don't follow the law could be hit with a steep fine, which starts at €500 for minor offences but rolls all the way up to €3,000.
Tourists have also been warned that alcohol cannot be bought in shops from 9.30pm to 8am in Spain - but bars and clubs can continue selling.
Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage
Those opting to relax at an all-inclusive resort can continue to expect sea and sunshine but have been warned that alcohol rules will apply there too.
All-inclusive guests are subject to a
The drinks must also be spaced throughout the day - three in the day and three in the evening.
The four main spots affected by these restrictions are
, and
, Playa de Palma and El Arenal in
Here's where you can visit without the six drink restriction:
Alcudia, Majorca
Cala D'Or, Majorca
Cala Bona, Majorca
Cala Millor, Majorca
Santa Eulalia, Ibiza
Es Cana, Ibiza
Playa Den Bossa, Ibiza
Port Des Torrent, Ibiza
Big fines are being imposed on those who try to quaff more than six drinks across the day.
People could be fined between €750 and €1,500 if their drinking "disrupts coexistence, involves crowds or deteriorates the tranquillity of the environment".
If the offence is considered serious, the fine could range from an eye-watering €1,500 to €3,000.
ID PLEASE
All tourists and Spanish citizens must carry a state-issued photo ID on their person "at all times".
Failure to produce an ID on the spot when asked by the Civil Guard, National, Regional or Local
And Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has warned Irish tourists abroad that ignoring direct requests or challenging a police officer may be viewed as "disobedience", which is a criminal offence.
The DFA warned that those arrested can't always jet right back home.
A spokesperson said: "
If you're arrested by the Spanish police at any stage, please ensure that all judicial matters against you are resolved before you leave Spain and that you have paid any fines.
"
Otherwise, you may be detained when you come back to Spain and you may incur further fines or even a prison sentence
."
Sarah Slattery, a former travel agent based in Ireland, also advises Irish sunseekers to prepare ahead by photocopying their ID and passport in case they're stolen while abroad.
She said: "It is not something we like to think about, but is it possible that you could be a victim of a crime on holidays, or you could simply loose your passport or other documents.
"I suggest photocopying or uploading images of your passport, tickets and insurance policy to the cloud before you travel.
"This is an important part of your holiday checklist, and once you have uploaded images of your passport once, they will be there for your next trip."
SHIRTLESS STROLL
In specific areas of Spain tourists may face a fine for wearing swimwear outside of pool or
areas.
Going shirtless or donning a bikini while walking in specific public locations is a major no-no in some parts of Spain.
And those who take the chance could be stopped by police in the street and slapped with a fine of up to €600.
Barcelona, Malaga and Benidorm are known as the spots tourists breaking this rule get caught out the most.
BAD BEACH BEHAVIOUR
The swimwear rule is not the only new regulation to have been implemented across certain sunshine destination in Spain.
In some seaside towns, entering the beach between midnight and 7am can see tourists landed with a fine worth between €750 and €1,200.
Swimming when the red flag is flying can cost €1,000.
Sleeping or camping on the beach can result in a sickening €1,200 bill while placing a parasol or towel to reserve a space comes with the risk of a possible €150 fine.
WHY IS SPAIN CLAMPING DOWN ON TOURISTS?
MANY of Spain's most popular tourist destinations have been introducing tighter regulations for tourists as we approach the summer.
It's a response to a fierce anti-tourism backlash in Spain.
Locals blame tourists for crowded streets, traffic jams, a proliferation of souvenir stalls and generic coffee shops and restaurants and spiralling cost-of-living prices.
Anger is also growing over the impact tourism is having on housing, with short-term tourist accommodation driving up the cost of rental properties.
The new measures aim to mitigate the issues caused by overtourism and ensure a more sustainable tourism model.
Smoking on the beach has a fine of up to €2,000 and alcohol is strictly banned - even when illegal beach vendors are offering it up at cheap prices.
And urinating in the sea can get you a fine of €150.
In parts of Benidorm and Tenerife,
However, according to 'Frank The Stag Man', a travel agent who runs stag and hen dos in Benidorm, the fine does not include children's sandcastles and is aimed towards larger "sand
architects
".
ALCOHOL & DRUG CONSUMPTION
The Irish government has issued warnings to Irish holidaymakers heading off to Spain to party.
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.
"There have been fatalities involving Irish citizens who have consumed illegal drugs in Spain.
"The Spanish authorities take the possession of illegal drugs in any quantity extremely seriously and such activity may result in imprisonment.
"The authorities in Mallorca and Ibiza are particularly active in anti-drug law enforcement, and are likely to prosecute in cases of use or possession of drugs."
'STAY CLEAR' OF PROTESTS
Multiple cities across Spain are expected to be brought to a standstill on June 15 when locals take to the streets to protest against mass tourism.
Representatives of 60 groups in
are among those who vowed that the date would mark their biggest protest yet.
The demonstration in Palma, Majorca will be held simultaneously with similar marches in
Some cities in
And the Irish government has warned tourists abroad to "stay clear" of any protest action, amid fears that growing anger over mass tourism could make demonstrators more hateful.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning.
"We recommend that you stay clear of demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities.
"Protests may cause disruption to transport and other services. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice if necessary, and allow yourself extra time for your journey.
"You should also check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain."
YOU'RE GETTING TAXED
A NUMBER of popular Spanish tourist destinations have a tourist tax in place.
Popular regions like Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencia are among those who charge tourists a tax often added to their accomodation bill.
However, some hotspots have confirmed that the tax on tourists will be upped this year.
In the Balearic Islands, overnight charges may rise depending on the quality of the accommodation.
The Balearic Islands include holiday hotspots such as Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza.
Cruise ship passengers visiting the popular region will be hit with a 200 per cent increase in tax.
In Barcelona, the tourist tax is set to double per person per night. But children under 16 are exempt in both cases.
CAP ON CARS & CARAVANS
Ibiza has this month introduced a limit on the number of tourists cars and caravans that can visit the hugely popular holiday island.
From June 1 until September 30, the number of vehicles used by non-residents will be capped at 20,168.
Only 16,000 of these vehicles will be allowed to be rental cars and the other 4,108 will be for tourists who want to disembark with their cars in Ibiza from the ports of Barcelona, ​​Denia, Valencia, or Palma.
And Irish tourists planning on taking a drive to the sunshine spots have been warned vehicles must obtain prior online authorisation first.
Those making the journey in caravans must present a confirmed reservation at an authorised campsite on the island to make it through.
I
biza Island Council President Vicent Marí
insisted the island is "not closing the door the door to tourists".
He said: We're introducing this limit to guarantee the sustainability of Ibiza. The island cannot withstand uncontrolled tourism flows.
"This measure is about protecting the quality of life for residents and the environment.
"We are not closing the door to tourists. We are simply inviting them to enjoy our island in a way that is respectful, measured, and future-focused."
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Irish tourists heading to popular Spanish sunshine spots will now need to be more cautious about how and where they drink (Stock Picture)
Credit: Getty Images
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Thousands took to the streets of Tenerife to protest about mass tourism last month
Credit: Getty Images
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Irish tourists must have a valid ID on their person 'at all times' in Spain
Credit: Getty Images - Getty