Spain holiday warning as Brits face fines for ‘wild behaviour’ – including a shell beach game
BRITISH tourists visiting one of Majorca's most popular holiday resorts have been warned they could face a hefty fines for bad behaviour, including playing a beachfront shell game.
Palma council is reminding holidaymakers that breaching new rules aimed at cracking down on drunken behaviour could cost them fines of between €100 and €3,000.
Traders are specifically urging police to dish out fines for any tourist taking part in the "shell game," which is outlawed in the resort of Playa de Palma.
During the game, players have to guess which one of three shells is hiding a small ball underneath in order to double their bet, but the game is well-known to tricksters and used to de-fraud tourists.
Spokesman and treasurer, Josep Balanzat of the PIMEM business association said Palma business owners were suffering security problems and uncivil behaviour, as old practices such as street selling and the shell game had resurfaced post-pandemic.
He described these as "annoyances derived from the wild behaviour of visitors who over-indulge in alcohol."
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Business owners claim there aren't enough police on the streets and are demanding reinforcements, as well as fines for tourists who play the shell game in the street.
Mr. Balanzats said: "The security forces have to start acting because the degradation is increasing and this is a stain that can spread to the entire island."
Palma council has confirmed the shell game is illegal and part of the clampdown, and promised to put more police on duty, both on foot, on motorbikes, bicycles and in cars.
They will tackle everything from the shell game, illegal massages and illegal street sellers to drunken behaviour and street parties.
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There are strict new rules across Ibiza and Majorca too, with Brits facing fines up to £250,000 if caught at illegal parties.
Holidaymakers will now be slapped with a six-drink-a-day limit instead of having alcohol on tap when on an all-inclusive break.
Tourists can only have three free tipples at lunch and three with their evening meal.
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Balearic officials have also put the block on boozy pub crawls, the sale of alcohol in shops between 9.30pm and 8am and advertising party boats in some areas.
Balearic Government chiefs say they want to improve the image of the party resorts which have a reputation for boozy and bad behaviour.
