Apple Maps has sparked surprise after listing the tourist hotspot of s'Arenal, in Playa de Palma, under the unusual name Betrunkene – German for “Drunks”. The label appears over the area surrounding several popular local bars and is also reflected in Apple’s weather app for the island destination.
The name has caught users off guard, as Apple usually requires a verification process to approve changes to location names. It remains unclear how the unusual designation made its way into the company’s mapping system, according to reports from German broadcaster Tagesschau.
By contrast, Google Maps lists the same area as Platja dels Borratxos ("Beach of the Drunks") and a nearby street as Carrer dels Alemanys Borratxos ("Street of the Drunken Germans"). While Google allows users to add or edit locations with relative ease, Apple’s system is far more restrictive. Experts say that for an entire neighbourhood to appear under the name Betrunkene, it would normally require official validation from the Cupertino-based company.
Apple has yet to comment on the origins of the designation. Google Maps, meanwhile, features other colourful names in the Playa de Palma area, including Balconing Street, which runs between s’Arenal and the nearby coastline.