When it comes to Brits on holiday, there's one thing we all love: an all-inclusive package with unlimited booze.
But, thanks to a few behaving badly, British tourists are now having the number of alcoholic drinks a person can enjoy limited while on an all-inclusive holiday in Spain.
According to Thomas Cook, any of the establishments required to limit the number of alcoholic drinks could face ludicrous fines of up to €600,000 (£510,087) for serving you beyond your six free drinks.
Considering the Spanish have an offensive codeword for British tourists who drink too much, it shouldn't come as a surprise that party hotspots have been hit first.
Which areas in Spain are impacted by the 'six-drink rule'?
The good news is, the 'six-drink rule' doesn't apply to every resort in Spain. The bad news, it applies to some of the most popular ones, especially for those who travel there for drinks, sun, and a good time.
If you're planning to go on a family holiday, the chances are you're not going to be getting (too) hammered with the kids around. So the 'six-drink rule' shouldn't impact you too much.
Certain areas in Spain have set limits for the number of free drinks you can get (Getty Stock Images) Before you panic that your booze filled fun in the sun has been completely ruined, here are the four areas that have currently been impacted by the alcohol restrictions:
- Playa de Palma, Majorca
- El Arenal, Majorca
- Magaluf, Majorca
- West End of San Antonio, Ibiza
If you're planning a trip to anywhere else in Spain, good news, the chances are your all-inclusive holiday is allowed to give you as much free booze as you (or the people around you) can handle.
What are the rules in Spanish all-inclusive resorts for Brits?
The rules aren't as simple as just being allowed six free drinks either.The most amount of alcoholic drinks a person can consume is three with their lunch, and then another three with their evening meal. So it's bad news for those of you that were planning to down all six in one go, sorry.
The good news is, the rules don't stop you from buying additional drinks. Instead, it only includes limiting the amount of free drinks included in an all-inclusive resort, at the named locations, during the anytime other than with your meals.
There's currently no limit on how many drinks you can purchase, meaning you can still go and have as many drinks as you want, they just won't be included in your all-inclusive package.
Turns out you might have to pay if you want an extra few drinks (Getty Stock Images) Anyone caught breaking the rules will end up with a much more expensive holiday than they had anticipated.
It's not just establishments that can be fined, any individuals caught breaking the rules can face fines of up to €1,600 (£1,368). Maybe just play it safe and get a round in.
Other rules to watch out for while in Spain
As well as watching out for the 'six-drink rule', you also need to be aware of some other limitations on drinks in Spain over recent years.
Firstly, any form of organized pub crawling as now a no-go. Any form of advertising which is seen to be promoting alcohol consumption is also banned now, as are open bars.
And finally, there are now no drinking zones around the country, where drinking alcohol in public could land you a hefty fine, so make sure to keep it do designated areas such as bars.