A tourist asleep on the beach wall and another tourist defecates on his head. Captured on video, the grossness of this act has made some wonder whether it will represent Playa de Palma's 'mamading' moment, when authorities finally say that enough is enough, as they did when the infamous mamading video in Magaluf provoked the condemnation that it did.
To suggest that excesses in Magaluf are a thing of the past is an exaggeration. A recent video by a Mallorcan YouTuber which highlighted 'lawlessness' on Punta Ballena was evidence that tourist excess - drunkenness among young tourists - most certainly continues. But it is fair to say that Magaluf has not been attracting the level of negative publicity it once did. By comparison, Playa de Palma has been the focus of regular outrage.
It's hardly anything new. The association with heavy drinking tourists - young Germans in particular - was portrayed in a 1997 German comedy film, Ballermann 6. German for Balneario 6, that film emphasised that this association is concentrated in a specific area in the vicinity of the Balneario. Playa de Palma, a marketing concept dreamt up by hoteliers in the 1960s, is a series of places. The problems are not experienced in the whole of Playa de Palma by any means - the Ballermann and across the municipal border into the Arenal of Llucmajor are the centre.
But what might be said to be relatively new is the sheer scale of the excess. Regardless of bylaws and Balearic legislation, it is not abating. Certain interventions have resulted in some success, such as the banning of the sale of drinking buckets and 'packs' to be shared by groups on the beach. These can still be found, though. The sale of alcohol is limited to 8am to 9.30pm. But has this made any difference? Have regulations preventing the outdoor display of alcohol had any effect? Tourist supermarkets, it is said, have been converted into virtual off-licences.
As well as the supermarkets, there are the street sellers of cocktails - mojitos, caipirinha. The police constantly act by reporting them, but this isn't a great deterrence. Officers also take action against the drinking of alcohol in public spaces, but they seem to be fighting a losing battle. Come the evening and into the next morning, this part of Playa de Palma becomes a public drinking venue, and it's as if there is an absence of control.
Residents and businesses, the hoteliers especially, have made their feelings known on repeated occasions. At some point, the drinking, the mess, the fights, the noise, the outrages have to end. But when?
9 comments
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There’s no police because they can’t afford the excessive rent for the extra coppers needed from the mainland. It’s so badly thought out you could cry. Everyone is on the maximum take from tourism, so much so that there’s less room for waiters, chefs, cleaners, police, nurses and doctors. Wake up a Mallorca. The golden goose is being well and truly throttled!
Adam OstenfeldThis is true, many locals with pales selling beer and other drinks and the cops just couldn't care
Peter PerfectWon't change a thing, many places have this and doesn't do anything.
I was in S'Arenal and I will admit that I enjoyed a few drinks by the beach watching the mayhem. We didn't get out of hand and cause disturbances. We laughed, chatted, and put our empties in their proper place and moved on. I think it's some people that feel they can do whatever they want to an excess because there is no consequences due to the desperation of tourist $€£s'
Make drinking in the street illegal. Job done.
Why is it when the Germans start causing problems you have to compare them to the British? The young Brits are no longer interested in visiting Mallorca ( which is a good thing) the authorities have done a great job in advertising the British are not welcome it’s a shame all the British are branded the same.
There is a problem and it makes one think about why has this Gotten so out of hand and the answer is simple lack of control effective control Alcohaul being sold illegally by people who are making money because of the lack of control people English , German & Italians have languished in the lack of Control and people to endorse the situation , it’s not going to change they come to Mallorca because at home that is not allowed !
The solution is to restrict alcohol procurement. If tourists can't buy alcohol, they can't abuse. So earlier closure of outlets selling alcohol is needed or a ban on them selling alcohol after certain hours. Along with a greater police presence in the main resort streets and greater powers to remove drunks and place them into police custody will all serve to control and deter.
Only one thing worse than thick ugly drunk tatooed football top wearing English people and that's thick ugly drunk tatooed football top wearing Germans.