The restaurants association within the CAEB Confederation of Balearic Business Associations is demanding that immediate action is taken to stop the "botellón" street parties that have been taking place since the lifting of the curfew.
The association argues that these gatherings are "clearly to the detriment of the Balearics" and present "a regrettable image of drunken tourism" which gives foreign governments "reasons" for maintaining recommendations against travel to the islands. There is an "absolute lack of control" of these gatherings in places such as Playa de Palma.
Bars and restaurants, it is noted, are currently restricted in terms of their capacities, opening hours and distance, without there being "any health basis". Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ruled against social gathering limits and the curfew. Gatherings in homes are therefore possible without any limits, and yet bars and restaurants cannot serve customers "freely".
The CAEB association wants to see a so-called dry law to prohibit the sale of alcohol in "low-cost shops in hotspot areas"; it mentions Magalluf as well as Playa de Palma. Accepting there will be the sale of alcohol in regular supermarkets, the association is against the sale in what it describes as "liquor stores" and on the streets.
The opening of nightlife needs to be reconsidered as soon as possible. This will mean the "better" control" of people on the streets. The association is also calling for increased police surveillance and for police "watchtowers" every 500 metres as a means of preventing large gatherings of people.
Despite the tourism of excesses law, there is still no control or suppression of the "botellón". "We are risking our image with foreign tourism markets. Scenes of rubbish left by these gatherings leave much to be desired in terms of sustainable tourism." The regional government and town halls should have the "courage" to implement measures and demonstrate that the "sacrifices" made by the bar and restaurant sector have been worth it.
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In the videos I have seen of the bottellon in playa de palma, Germans can be heard. I’m not suggesting they were all tourists, however, clearly they are not solely Islanders. I have also witnessed tourists complaining of the quietness here, what really do they expect?
first they all complain, bars, restaurants, hotels, airlines, etc, non stop. now the masses are set free by opening up too quickly , so what do they expect.... the few police on the the island to control what ....xxxx thousands of people who have been bored for a year plus.... mission impossible...meanwhile WHO announces today with only around 30 percent of the EU vaccinated , major caution is to be considered in regards to summer travel... and no one will listen, so the end the end result is back to restrictions late Aug like last year... repeat after repeat...
I fear there is little appetite for intervention. The Police are undermanned and do not want to put themselves at risk by drunken revellers.
These BOTELLION People are not tourist !!!n
Yet another issue proving that we're nowhere near ready for tourists yet, - as if we needed one. If the Police can't control this among locals, how could they ever hope to do so with foreign tourists.. Forget Amber, get Spain on the Red List until we can cope with tourism. Maybe next year if we're lucky...