UK and Irish holidaymakers heading for all-inclusives may in future be forced to pay for alcohol if new rules proposed by the Tourism chiefs are introduced. They contend that unlimited booze is at the root of the islands’ anti-social behaviour problems.
It’s understood discussions are progressing over the idea of ruling out totally free and unrestricted alcohol in the main holiday resorts and the suggestion is likely to go out for public consultation later this summer.
Island newspaper Diario de Mallorca says the Government is studying the formula to force hotels to charge alcohol separately in the all-inclusive system, “thus stopping the sometimes massive consumption that takes place in the establishments that offer this service”.
At one stage, the Balearic Government had been talking about all-inclusive hotels offering free alcohol at mealtimes only but this suggestion seems to go one step further and is likely to prove extremely unpopular.
The Balearic Government says it will be talking to all the individual councils before making any firm proposals.
Tourism chiefs are particularly keen to clampdown in the Calvia district of Majorca which includes Magaluf. Calvia council has been pressing for urgent regulation of the all-inclusive hotel offer and wants the Government to make an announcement as soon as possible.
One restaurant owner told Diario de Mallorca: “There is no control on the part of the hotel company, no matter how much they say yes, and there are those who leave the hotel truly drunk, it hurts us in every way.”
