The decree law issued by the Govern to combat excessive tourism sets limits to achieve a improvement in quality of the tourist areas such as the West End of Sant Antoni. Different institutions are involved (Govern, Consell de Ibiza and Sant Antoni City Council) to control that the standard is complied with in terms of health, consumption, commerce and tourism. There are places that respect the provisions of the decree, while others ignore it.
Some slight changes in West End
Things have changed, although they are almost imperceptible. Tourists used to flood the main streets of the West End from mid-afternoon onwards, now they are not seen until the sun goes down, with some exceptions. It is after 10:30pm when they start their own party in an area governed by a decree law against excessive tourism, approved in January 2020 but that actually comes into effect from this year, after two seasons of closure in establishments by the pandemic.
It affects about twenty streets and the objective is clear: to control uncivic behavior and abuse of alcoholic beverages. And as in everything, there are those who comply and those who ignore the regulations.
One of the customers of an establishment that has taken alcoholic beverages outside, even though it is prohibited.
It is 9:30pm, the time limit set by the decree for commercial establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold where they lower the shutters until 8am the next day. In West End there are less than a dozen stores of this type and practically all have closed, except for one, in Sant Mateu street. It’s the whole shop window and from the outside you can see hundreds of bottles on display. Also the store sign is full of pictures of alcoholic beverages.
One of the establishments in the area that sells alcohol and has to close at 9:30pm as set by decree.
The terraces of all the restaurants in the area are full of people. The waiters bring out plates by the dozen. Numerous people stroll through the streets. The queue for a taxi on the promenade is growing by the minute. There is a breeze that makes it more bearable to be in the street, unlike days before.
Atmosphere in the promenade of ses Fonts.
The clock marks 10:40pm and calle Santa Agnès, the benchmark in terms of nightlife, already offers a different image to that of an hour ago. The terraces are practically full and the comings and goings of people entering and leaving the premises is constant. Around 11pm, a patrol of agents of the Policía Local of Sant Antoni goes up and down the street. All is in order.
Numerous people gather in the streets of West End every day until the closing of the bars in the area. Vicent Marí
Minutes later, groups of drunken young people begin to appear. Many of them leave the bars. They are barely in their 20s and some have to lean on the tables or sit on the benches to avoid falling. “Are u ok?”, says a boy to his friend, who can barely open his eyes.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.