A row has broken out between the two main political parties of Més of Majorca and the Socialists, PSOE over the timing of the new rules which would effectively put an end to free booze.
The original idea was to introduce it in 2019 but it was then postponed to 2020 because many packages had already been arranged for next season.
Més wants the new legislation to go ahead as soon as possible but claims the PSOE is stalling because it wants to retain the loyalty of hoteliers in the run-up to local elections in November.
It would mean the limit on free drinks in all-inclusive hotels wouldn’t come into force yet and would not even be discussed until the new government term of office began.
An inside source said: “President of the Executive, Francina Armengol, and her party have decided to park it until the next term.”
The unpopular regulation would be brought in under the Tourism Law promoted by the Ministry of Industry, headed by economic vice president, Bel Busquets.
The aim is to order all-inclusive hotels to serve free alcohol at mealtimes only and to charge for drinks at any other time of the day or night and then only through waiter service.
The Balearic Government claims the all-inclusive package is a the heart of drunken tourism in Majorca and Ibiza, although this is disputed by hotel leaders and ABTA in the UK which says problems with tipsy holidaymakers do not stem from all-inclusive hotels.
Opponents of the new legislation say it would be completely impossible for it to be debated in the Parlament before the month of May.
Més says the Socialists want to avoid controversy with the hoteliers and the unions before the election and for that reason, “they are paralysing it”.
The Association of British Travel Agents has already requested a meeting with the islands’ tourism minister to clarify exactly why they want to impose the controversial controls.
An ABTA spokesperson said: “We have written to the Tourism Minister Bel Busquet raising our concerns and requesting a meeting.
“We have asked for any available evidence that all-inclusive holidays are a significant cause of the problems that are intended to be addressed, as this is not the experience that we have of all-inclusive holidays.”
Hoteliers in Ibiza also want to be exempt, saying the island only has a small number of hotels which offer all-inclusive and they are usually in isolated locations and aimed at families.
Protestors say that if Ibiza is linked with Majorca under the new rules planned fo 2020, it will lose even more holidaymakers to the resurgent markets of Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia.
Director of tourism, Vicent Torres Benet said: “This regulation is out of place in Ibiza because on this island, the ‘all inclusive’ is a minority, it is focused on family tourism and, therefore, it does not generate any problems.
“Yes it is a problem that, unfortunately, Majorca suffers more than Ibiza. That is why we will request an exception for Ibiza.”
The Hotel Business Federation of Ibiza and Formentera says it will challenge any change to the present system in the courts.