Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002841/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR)
There are several holiday destinations in southern Europe (e.g. Ibiza, Mallorca, Albufeira, Sunny Beach, Chersonissos, Kos, Split) known for their drinking culture and poor control of whether drinkers are of legal age. This is potentially causing a race to the bottom, with minors opting for holiday destinations which pay scant regard to laws governing minimum drinking age. Minors are encouraged to participate in these trips[1]. Such tourism is also a nuisance to local residents.
- 1.Does the Commission share the WHO’s view that Europe needs to rethink the place of alcohol in society[2], and take the approach that regulation and supervision of this form of cross-border tourism should be a top priority in this context?
- 2.Does the Commission share the view that holidays in which excessive underage drinking is encouraged, for example through contractual arrangements between international tour operators and stakeholders in the local hospitality industry, are difficult to reconcile with the EU alcohol strategy[3] and the Commission’s commitment to sustainable tourism, especially the social aspect thereof[4]?
- 3.Will the Commission engage with national governments and travel industry representatives to tackle this issue?
Submitted: 11.7.2025
- [1] https://www.golloretdemar.nl/lloret-de-mar-uitgaan-leeftijd/ en https://www.vakantiesvoorjongeren.nl/zonvakanties/spanje/mallorca-el-arenal/uitgaan-el-arenal/
- [2] https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/02-10-2024-redefine-alcohol–who-s-urgent-call-for-europe-to-rethink-alcohol-s-place-in-society en https://www.who.int/europe/publications/m/item/alcohol–health-and-policy-response-in-the-european-union-in-2019
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/alcohol/documents/alcohol_com_625_en.pdf
- [4] https://transition-pathways.europa.eu/system/files/2024-09/Transition_Pathway_For_TourismFEB2022_correctedlink.pdf
Last updated: 18 July 2025