Five surprising Spanish laws you could easily break on holiday
SPAIN is a popular holiday destination for Brits looking to soak up some sun.
But there are five surprising Spanish laws that you could easily break while you're on your hols - and you could be slapped with a hefty fine.
We've got all you need to know on the five laws so you don't accidentally break them while you're away.
1. Smoking on the beach
A new law was passed in Spain last year that gives local municipalities the power to fine anyone caught smoking on the beach.
Several Spanish tourist hotspots, including Barcelona and the Canary Islands, already had the ban in place, but the nationwide law is the first of its kind in Europe.
It is up to each local municipality in Spain to decide whether to impose the law - so you'll need to check to see whether smoking is banned on the beach you're visiting.
If a municipality does take up the law, anyone caught smoking on the beach can be charged up to £1,700.
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2. Booze cruises
If you're looking to let loose and have a few drinks, you'll need to be wary of some alcohol laws.
The Balearic Islands, which includes party island Ibiza, as well as Majorca and Menorca, introduced new alcohol laws back in 2020.
However, due to the pandemic, many party-goers are yet to return since they were introduced, so if you're got plans to go soon, don't get caught out.
Holidaymakers staying at all-inclusive hotels across Magaluf, Sant Antoni and Playa de Palma are limited to just six drinks a day.
Buying alcohol at shops is banned between the hours of 9:30pm and 8am.
Happy hours, pub crawls and two-for-one drinks offers have also been banned, and fines of up to £50,000 can be given to anyone advertising party boats.
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3. Wearing a bikini
Spain can reach scorching temperatures and in some beach resorts it's not uncommon to see holidaymakers stripped down to just a bikini or swimsuit.
However, two popular Spanish destinations have strict rules on where you can wear swimwear - with fines for any rulebreakers.
In Barcelona, people can only wear bikinis on the beach, and holidaymakers caught wearing one in the town centre could face a fine of up to £260.
Similarly, bikinis are limited to the beaches in Majorca, with fines of up to £500 for those caught flouting the rules.
4. Balconing
Balconing is the term given to people who jump off their hotel balcony into a swimming pool below.
The activity is extremely dangerous and has caused a significant number of deaths, including more than 28 Brits.
In 2018, the Foreign Office teamed up with a Spanish surgeon to run a video campaign warning British tourists not to do it.
Anyone caught balconing on the Balearic Islands can face fines between £620 and £1,250.
5. Playing beach games
Having a knock about with a bat and ball is a classic beach activity - but playing in a popular Spanish destination could land you with a fine.
It's forbidden to play paddle tennis on the sand during the summer months in Malaga, and rulebreakers could be fined up to £661.
Meanwhile, -Brits with plans to visit Spain have been given a holiday boost as Covid restrictions are eased.
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The country has ditched Covid testing and quarantine rules for anyone who has mild symptoms of the virus or those who are asymptomatic.
The Canary Islands scrapped all Covid restrictions last week, including limits on the number of people who can enter bars and restaurants.
