A Spanish city, which serves as a major tourist destination for Britons, including stag and hen parties, has introduced a brand new rule in a bid to tackle antisocial behaviour linked to alcohol consumption.

Barcelona, which welcomes over 500,000 British visitors each year, has prohibited pub crawls citywide at all hours of the day. Previously, pub crawls were only forbidden in the areas of Ciutat Vella and L’Eixample, which had restrictions between 7pm and 7am, reports the Mirror.

On the official website for Barcelona City Council, a statement outlined how it defines a pub crawl: “Pub crawling is a business that takes customers on organised drinking tours to a series of establishments that offer discounted alcoholic drinks.

“It typically involves quickly consuming one or more low-quality drinks before heading to the next stop. This activity has been identified as a risk factor that causes disturbances in neighbourhoods, puts extra strain on public spaces and potentially leads to criminal behaviour or road safety violations.”

It also confirmed: “The new decree introduces a permanent ban that applies 24 hours a day, year-round, rather than being only seasonal.” It stated that the new ban will remain in place for four years. The change took effect yesterday (October 29).

Organisers who flout the ban and arrange events could be slapped with fines of up to €3,000. While pub crawl participants won’t face charges for their involvement, they could potentially be fined for public drinking or causing disturbances, with penalties ranging from €100 to €3,000.

This is the latest in a series of measures introduced by authorities to mitigate the impact of tourism on Barcelona, and other Spanish hotspots may follow suit.

In May, it was revealed that Spain was clamping down on holiday rentals, with Airbnb being ordered to delist 65,000 properties. The mass removal was justified by reasons such as missing licence numbers and unclear ownership records.

Many of the removed properties were located in popular tourist destinations, such as Barcelona and Málaga. Protests against overtourism have been staged over recent years, with hundreds of demonstrators marching through the streets of Barcelona brandishing banners reading “tourists go home”.

A trade union in the Balearic Islands has even suggested implementing a €15 per day tourist tax during peak season as a “deterrent” for visitors. The union’s general secretary stated: “This is not an increase aimed at raising revenue, but rather a deterrent, so that the Balearic Islands send a clear message to the world that there’s no room for more people here during the high season.”

Brits hoping to indulge in unlimited drinks on their holiday may be in for a shock. Those visiting certain parts of Majorca and Ibiza could find themselves restricted to just six drinks a day, despite having paid for an all-inclusive package.