Boat excursion company fined €161,000 in crackdown on ‘booze cruises’ in Mallorca
A boat company operating illegal ‘booze cruises’ has been fined 161,000 euros by the Calvia council in Mallorca. This type of boat excursion is banned under the new law of excesses introduced by the government of the Balearics, in an attempt to clean up the image of the islands as a tourist destination.
According to the council the company was offering “party boat trips” for 45 euros per person. Police became aware of the situation when they were alerted to around 130 people boarding a boat in Magalluf.
Once on board, the officers discovered the sale of alcoholic beverages, blackboards with price lists, and beer pumps. There were unlabelled alcohol bottles and plastic carafes full of beer in fridges below deck. They also found DJ and music equipment on board, to enliven the planned party.
Juan Feliu, the general director of activities and commerce, offences, and sanctions at the Calivia Town Hall, confirmed on Monday (August 7th), that “this is a very serious infringement that has resulted in the corresponding fine of 161,000 euros. Our tourist industry and their staff work long and hard to protect the good name of Calvia. We do not want our municipality to be tarnished by tourism of excesses.”
The Balearic government and the various island councils have launched a major crackdown on alcohol-related tourism, especially in the Magalluf and Playa de Palma areas.
Plainclothes police officers have just started to patrol Magalluf as part of the crackdown, and in the first month (July) their success rate for drunken offences is already being observed.
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