Ever since there has been mass tourism in Mallorca there has been illegal selling of one form or another. And for much of the past sixty-plus years there have been campaigns to end this selling and calls from legitimate traders to stamp it out. An example comes from 1989 and a magazine that used to appear in Magaluf. In one edition there was an article trusting that a change at Calvia’s police force would bring about an end to selling on the beach. The author
of that article was Pepe Tirado, now the president of the Acotur tourist service businesses association. Over the years, the legitimate trade has launched campaigns asking tourists not to buy from illegal sellers – Magaluf, Playa de Palma, Alcudia, wherever. These used to be leafleting campaigns. Traders now use social media. In Playa de Palma there is now one such effort, alerting people to the sale of alcoholic drinks on the beach by illegal vendors and advising against consuming these drinks. Vendors walk along the
beach offering mojitos and sangria in plastic cups. Beachgoers might think these are from authorised establishments or regulated beach services. But they are not. There is a warning about the conditions under which these drinks are prepared and handled. “We’ve documented in videos how these so-called ‘fresh’ drinks and fruits are prepared on dirty pavements, sometimes next to rubbish containers, parked cars, and places where hygiene is clearly not controlled. “Drinks can be left in the sun for a long time, opened repeatedly, mixed with
ice, refilled, and then sold again. In the summer heat, fruit, sugar, plastic cups, and improper cooling are a very dangerous combination.” The message highlights potential health consequences. “People experience stomach issues on holiday and then blame the hotel or the restaurant. But very often, these drinks are the real culprit.” It concludes: “Please don’t buy these drinks on the beach. Go to an official beach club, restaurant or licensed bar. It’s cleaner, safer, fresher, and you know what you’re drinking. NO to beach mojitos
and sangria from illegal street sellers.” Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Balearic Government’s committee for tackling ‘intrusion’ has been held. This committee, with representation from various authorities and organisations, is targeting different types of unauthorised activity – transport, holiday lets, charter boats, street selling. Will this committee make any difference?
Mallorca, Playa de Palma, illegal street sellers, sangria, mojitos, tourism, hygiene warnings, Balearic Government, intrusion committee, Calvià police