A surge in drink-fuelled disorder caused by boozy Brits has forced Spanish authorities to limit alcohol sales to just six a day on islands like Ibiza and Majorca, one travel expert says.
The controversial rule was rolled out in January but is only now catching out tourists heading to the islands as the weather improves - with some feeling their trip has been ruined by the limit on cheap booze.
Jason Walker, 42, who jetted off on an all-inclusive trip to Majorca for his cousin's birthday last week, says the rule has left him "angry" and "upset" - and has had to splash out extra cash as a result.
As it stands, visitors are limited to three drinks with their meal - and will be forced to pay the going rate for beers, wine and spirits should they want more than their meagre three-beverage allowance.
But a travel expert believes it is rowdy Brit holidaymakers who are to blame for the draconian measures.
Eoghan Corry, chief travel writer for the Irish Sunday Mirror, says the rule is the Spanish police's attempt to curb the alcohol-fuelled chaos on the popular islands.
He said: “It’s been a runaway problem at all-inclusive resorts for many years. What’s happened is that a small number come and try and get boozed.
“It tends not to be the cost of it that they look at, it’s the disorder that can result.”
Jason claims he wasn't notified of the rule when he paid £240 for his three-night trip with travel operator Love Holiday.
He incorrectly assumed the all-in fee entitled him to as much food and drink as he wanted.
But when the security officer arrived on the beautiful Mediterranean island, he was stunned to find out that there were limits on his free booze consumption.
Travel expert Eoghan said the rule "should have been better flagged", but that he isn't surprised it wasn't due to the changing nature of all-inclusive holidays in Europe.
He added: “It should have been better flagged but you have to remember it’s at the cheaper end of the all-inclusive business that you find this. It’s not really at the premium end.
"All-inclusive is controversial anyway because tourist boards don’t like it as it keeps people in the resort and doesn’t get them out to the local hotels and bars.
“Certainly in Europe, all-inclusive is becoming less and less a thing.”
Spanish officials first announced the new law in January but its has caught out hundreds of British holiday-makers who are now arriving in the islands.
Jason is urging holidaymakers jetting off to similar Spanish resorts over the summer to check their small print or face incurring hefty drinks costs without warning.
He said: "We only found out when we checked in and only budgeted so much because thought all our food and drink would be covered.
"We were very upset and angry.
"We've come as a family of eight to celebrate my cousin's 40th and while we have still had a good time, we have incurred extra costs as a result."
Local authorities in Spain introduced the booze ban in January this year, which affects certain resort areas of the Balearic Islands, including Palma, Ibiza and Magaluf.
The new law - which states "alcoholic drinks will be limited to six per day" - is part of a package of measures designed to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
These also believed to include bans on pub crawls, happy hours and two-for-one drinks offers, which are all being enforced by hefty fines.
Jason, from Blackburn, Lancs., said he understood the government is trying to stop yobbish drinking behaviour, but he believes the new rules need to be better advertised.
He said: "I understand they are trying to stem alcohol abuse and rowdy behaviour, but I think this has been done very sneakily - I was not made aware of it and didn't know about the law.
"We are also here as a family and all-inclusive is great for families as you don't have to worry about budgeting for food and drink."
Jason called on travel operators to give holidaymakers more information about how their trips might be affected by the draconian laws.
He also believes that holidays where a three drink per meal rule is in place are being mislabelled and shouldn't be branded as "all-inclusive".
He said: "I have looked at the small print and the alcoholic drink rule is there, so I don't think it should be sold as an all-inclusive inclusive holiday, it should be sold as half-board or something along those lines.
"If you are booking an all-inclusive holiday, I recommend that you look at the small print and see what is actually included and what's not because the rules have changed."
Holidaymakers writing on social media have reacted furiously to the new laws, which many feel have not been widely publicised.
One Twitter user believed that inclusive holidays with booze limits should be marketed as "half-board" - and called for hotel contracts where this wasn't clearly stated to be ripped up.
He said: "Brits will now be restricted to just six drinks a day, which can only be accessed alongside their lunch and dinner - offering them a mere three drinks per meal."
"[That's] usually referred to as "Half Board Plus". It's time to cancel the hotel contracts for All Inclusive basis."
A spokesperson for the ABTA - The Travel Association said the rules have the potential to cause "confusion" among holidaymakers.
They said: "ABTA strongly supports initiatives that improve the health and safety of holidaymakers, as well as the welfare of local communities.
"Some of the measures introduced by the Balearic Islands authorities to limit anti-social behaviour have potential to cause confusion for UK holidaymakers.
"We welcome the recent clarification from the authorities, including that the restrictions will only apply to certain limited areas in Mallorca and Ibiza rather than the whole of the Balearics as originally proposed.
"ABTA will continue to engage with the Balearic Islands Government, ABTA Members and other parties, to encourage clear communication and exchange of information, in order to ensure holidaymakers travelling to hotels in the designated areas enjoy a positive customer experience."
Travel operator Thomas Cook recently alerted their customers to the crack down on free booze through an email.
They said: "Please be advised that a decree has been issued by the Balearic Government on a new restriction for All Inclusive meal option.
"There is a maximum of six alcoholic drinks per person per day that can be served and these drinks will be provided only during lunch and dinner ( 3 each).
"Please be aware that Magalluf, El Arenal, Playa de Palma in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza, there is new restriction on All Inclusive."
Love Holidays, which sold the all inclusive holiday to Jason, has been approached for comment.
