People heading abroad to Spain during the Euros this summer could find themselves facing a hefty fine for wearing particular clothing. Travellers could face the risk of being fined up to £500 for breaking new public rules in some parts of the country.
Tourists risk being fined for smoking, drinking and wearing their football shirts, according to travel insurance experts at One Sure Insurance. Spanish authorities have strict rules with fines for wearing unsuitable clothes as well as tightening alcohol regulations in some popular Spanish locations.
Alcohol consumption is also being restricted by local laws in the popular holiday destinations of Majorca, Magaluf (Calvia), Playa de Palma, Ibiza, and San Antonio (San Antoni de Portmany) in resort areas. There’s also been a clamping down on happy hours with discounted drinks, open bars, alcohol vending machines, self-service alcohol dispensers, pub-crawls, party boat trips, and off-licence alcohol sales being prohibited between 9.30pm and 8am.
A spokesperson at One Sure Insurance said: “As the Euros kick off this month, we are seeing increasing numbers of British tourists head to their holiday destinations to enjoy matches in the sun. This has meant increasing bans on specific clothing items including football shirts and novelty wear to promote a more respectful environment.
“Majorca has seen multiple restaurants targeting clothes associated with drunken tourism. We’ve also seen that wearing just a bikini or being bare chested with swimming shorts away from the beach could land tourists fines of up to £500 in various locations.”
A number of areas are also enforcing fines for smoking in public spaces such as beaches and restaurant terraces of up to €2,000 (£1,700). Those who are caught drinking alcoholic beverages on beaches can lead to a £650 fine, while throwing cigarette butts or litter from a moving vehicle can land a fine of four points and a €200 (£170) fine.
Holiday goers are also at risk of fines for dangerous behaviour on balconies, where the Foreign Office advised that hotels and other establishments are obliged to evict customers who behave dangerously on balconies. Local marine wildlife conservation efforts have led to the introduction of a £560 fine for using soap or shampoo at the beach when rinsing off.
Experts at One Sure Insurance added: “We are urging all travellers to familiarise themselves with these regulations before departing to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday experience.”
For more information and advice about travel to Spain, visit the Gov.uk website.