Tourists in popular Ibiza resort face £600 fines for drinking WATER in the street

• 00:00, 30 APR 2016
• UPDATED 00:00, 30 APR 2016
• BY RITA SOBOT

Council chiefs wants to ban all outdoor alcohol consumption as part of a crack down on loutish behaviour in San Antonio

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Council bosses in the Ibiza resort of San Antonio are attempting to crackdown on drinking on the streets

Tourists visiting one of Ibiza's most popular holiday resorts could face fines of more than £600 if they are caught drinking water in the street.

Council chiefs wants to ban all outdoor alcohol consumption as part of a crack down on loutish behaviour in San Antonio - a much favoured destination for Brits.

They say its impossible if the liquid is clear it's 'impossible' for police to know what people have inside their bottles and have decided to ban drinking entirely.

"Obviously people will be allowed to consume drinks on the terraces of bars but they won’t be able to take the drinks off the premises," said a town councillor.

The new law, which would see fines of 750 euros a time, is still to be rubber-stamped but is almost certain to win approval.

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Drinking water on the streets in San Antonio could cost you a £600 fine

Tourism chiefs in San Antonio, about 20 minutes from Ibiza town, say they have to clean up their act and get away from the old image of drunken yobs sprawling out on to the streets at all hours and rowdy behaviour.

The Mayor, Pep Tur Cires said the tough stance was tighter than the norm but "the aim is that no groups of young people will be seen drinking in the street" and causing a disturbance.

"The local police cannot see, at a glance, whether a vessel contains alcohol or not, "he confirmed.

Former Mayor, José Sala said it would be impossible to enforce such a law and slammed it as "unconstitutional".

"We are willing to make changes but not to this extent," he insisted.

The new law would also apply to consuming other drinks in the street such as orange juice.
The ban would not affect the terraces of bars or restaurants.

Officials say it doesn't matter what the drink is carried in, ie a bottle or a plastic cup. It would till be vetoed.

Police in on the Spanish island say it's 'impossible' to tell what people have in their bottles if the liquid is clear

To hit the message home, it is planned to put up information and warning boards around the resort in various languages, including English.

Councillors say they don't envisage fining children or athletes running through the streets.

The proposal is already causing uproar with many objectors saying health chiefs are encouraging drinking more water, not banning it.

"This must be the most stupid law of the year!" said another.

"It's absurd," said another angry resident. "In the baking hot weather, you can't leave your house without a bottle of water and this could end up with someone dying."

San Antonio council has published full details of the new law on its official website and which confirm the drinking ban on the streets or in public places.

The minimum fine for an infringement is 750 euros but this can rise to as much as 3,000 euros for serious or repeat offences.