Spain holiday warning as Irish tourists face fines for wearing a bikini and drinking alcohol

Spain is among the top holiday destinations for Irish tourists, and with thousands set to travel there over the coming months Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been keeping tourists updated with the latest advice.

Holidaymakers planning a trip to Spain should stay informed about the latest regulations that could significantly impact their experience. Recent years have seen notable changes in the holiday hotspot, driven by the effects of the Covid pandemic, Brexit implications and regional law changes.

Local communities, fed-up of excessive noise and unruly behaviour from some tourists, have successfully lobbied for stricter measures to clamp down on such activities and travellers can be hit with big fines if they ignore certain rules on things like wearing bikinis, drinking alcohol and misbehaving on balconies.

Bikinis and shirtless

Bikinis are completely fine on a Spanish beach, but that’s where they belong in some areas of Spain. In Malaga and Alicante, fines for going bare-chested or in a swimsuit in unauthorised places range from €300 to €750. Topless men and women in bikinis can face fines up to €300 on the streets of Barcelona and Majorca.

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Tourists will need to cover up in certain areas to avoid getting a fine, so it’s best to bring a cover up to the beach. Fines can even be issued on adjacent streets close to the beach, so holidaymakers should keep their shirt on until they hit the sand.

Soap and shampoo

Tourists can be fined a massive €750 for using soap or shampoo at some communal beach shower facilities. This is because the chemicals in these products can be harmful to marine life.

Smoking

Smoking is banned on some beaches in areas of Spain, including Barcelona, the Balearics and the Canary islands. Tourists will be able to smoke in designated smoking zones, so smokers should watch out for clear signs before lighting up.

Smoking away from a designated area could see a person fined up to €2,000.

Balconies

The DFA has issued advice for Irish citizens to take extra care on balconies to avoid fines, injury or even death. It says there have been a number of “serious accidents” in recent years involving falls from balconies.

“Several of these have resulted in the death or serious injury of an Irish citizen,” the DFA confirmed. Issuing advice, it said: “It is important to exercise caution when using hotel and apartment balconies, particularly if you have consumed alcohol or drugs, and to avoid taking unnecessary risks. If you suffer a balcony fall while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your insurance company may refuse to cover any resultant costs.”

Spain is attempting to stop a practice known as ‘balconing’ by introducing fines of up to €60,000.

Drinking alcohol

Drinking alcohol on the streets is banned in some areas of Spain including Barcelona and Madrid. Holidaymakers could be fined up to €600 for breaching the strict rules in the cities.

Tourists holidaying in parts of Majorca and Ibiza also face drinking rules, including a six-drink limit at some all-inclusive resorts.

Party boat cruises, all-you-can-drink bar crawls and some drink offers will also be banned in a bid to cut down on rowdy behaviour from certain tourists.

You can read the DFA's full travel advice for Irish citizens holidaying in Spain HERE.

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