I've got to be honest Sanji and say I dont actually have a problem with that one.....or are you perhaps thinking this is the "thin end of the wedge" with more rules and regulations to follow! I think it can take a while before we learn to handle alcohol in a sensible manner, and a lot of the problems we associate with alcohol abuse is actually Teenage Alcohol Abuse!....and the marketing of Alcopop type drinks and dubious pricing strategies to specifically target this market. Overall I have a very liberal approach to licensing regulations Hic!!...however I do feel Teenage drinking does need to be kept an eye on...but not of course by using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!

Best Regards - Taggy.

are you perhaps thinking this is the "thin end of the wedge" with more rules and regulations to follow!.

Hi Taggy
IMO: based on what I have read, the woman with a mission Elena wants to tackle the teenagers first by raising the age limit to 18 years as stated in the link, then abuse of alcohol and the effects amongsts Spains citizens in general.
IMO again...you very rarely will see a mature Spaniard drunk...the younger generation yes. and this is the warning bells to the government.
Alcohol abuse is alien to them, they tolerate the tourists "tanked up" out of their heads because it`s one of the "down sides" of mass tourism and you know the old saying...money makes the world go round.

They take the poo from the tourists because they have too...without tourists half of them (Spanish) would step back 40 years, but that doesn`t mean they like it, they just tolerate it until scenes of violence and destruction occur...and then people moan that the riot squad knocked six bells out of them.

Bring it on I say. it`s time people learnt how to behave abroad or take the consequences, instead of dumping all the cretin behaviour on Nations who have in the past had liberal licencing laws and who have still been able to control their alcohol intake.

besos xxx
Sanji

I could'nt agree more Sanji!

Best Regards - Taggy

Sanji,
Get a grip, lol, as far as i can see this is not any great big deal is it not bringing the drinking law in spain in line with what we have in the uk.

Nigel

And the drinking laws in the UK should be a shining example for the rest of Europe?

It is only a few months since your Government thought that you were grown up enough to handle pubs open after 11PM!!!

Sanji is right. This Health Minister is on a mission. I can see it as being a case of 'one step at a time'.

Sanji is right. This Health Minister is on a mission. I can see it as being a case of 'one step at a time'.

Thank you Oly.
You are correct it is a case of one step at a time.
A recent headline I read was stating that the amount of alcohol being consumed in Spain was alarming...those exact words only in Spanish.!

Apart from the drink culture (from other cultures) that has been passed on to the young 15/16/17 year olds of Spain, there are other issues to consider like the number of people who have been killed on Spains roads through drink/ driving.
The abuse and violent attacks that the workers have to tolerate from the tourists and damage to property.
Nigel
I don`t think it is a case of bringing Spains laws into line with the UK ....more the other way they have been open all day for years and allowing 16 year olds to drink...until now but that law changing to 18 yrs old will effect the tourists as well if it is passed through the Spanish parliment and it`s odds on favourite that it will be.

besos xxx
Sanji

Read this please and then tell me Spain does not have a problem or is not going to do something about alcohol abuse ...starting with the teenagers.
One step at a time

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2090429,00.html

sanji xxx

for that Sanji

Is it not tragic that our juveniles today seem to think that they can only socialise when they consume alcohol.

Like what it states in the paper that normally the med peoples' drinking habits use to be 'civilised'.

I am aware that some people felt this was excelled due to 'alcopops' or is it that juveniles lifestyles have evolved in a destructive manner And certainly do not realise the damage that these 'binge 'drinkers are doing to themselves.

tragic really

Kazee

Once a year can hardly be described as binge drinking, and the Newspapers seem to have blown a rather tame night out of all proportion.

As far as I know last night went without incident in my local area .don't know about the rest of Spain!

It looks like our loony Health Minister was over reacting a little. Nothing new there!

With a marked decline in holiday bookings over Easter it has now been decided to relax the draconian non-smoking regulations a little. Bar and restaurant owners in the Valencia region have been told that an approved air extraction system need only be installed to separate smokers from non-smokers, instead of a permanent partition. A good thing too. For the past two and a half months the owners of larger bars who have had to introduce these silly laws have been left with virtually deserted areas where the sanctimonious non-smokers should be sitting.
You might think that they should be out enjoying their 'victory', instead of smugly sitting indoors having annoyed the majority of people that used to look forward to having a few drinks.

Word is that it will not be long until things get back to the way they were .Too many people are losing money.

Oly Daze

Sorry, but I am a non smoker (certainly not sanctimonious one may I add) In my opinion a full ban of smokers in bars was a bit much, it is better to have partitions for smokers and non smokers. Therefore, everybodys needs are met.

Kind regards

kazee

Hiya Oly
It didn`t go off too well in other cities, I`m still trying to find out about Valencia..it seems only 3, 000 turned up
Rubber bullets and the riot squad were called into action and this is the bit I don`t like...
Several tourists out celebrating St Partricks day were caught up in it and some cities have brought in a law forbidding drinking in the street....now I wonder if Elena will pick up on that Nationally.?
There are also reports that some French students were the trouble makers, they used this as an excuse to protest about the change in the work permits within Spain.

CLICK HERE

besos xxx

Sorry about the earlier rant.

Here in Spain 40% of the population smoke. That of course leaves 60% that don't, but the vast majority of non-smokers couldn't care less about smoking or non-smoking areas in bars and restaurants. In fact, I would say that a good many of them are as upset as the smokers to see these places only a quarter full.
Only a tiny minority of non-smokers fall into the 'fanatic' category, but unfortunately these people seem to think that they should dictate what appropriate behavior is for everybody else.
It is usually the British who have been brainwashed into believing that being in a smoking area will somehow affect their health, and it is the British on this and other forums that arrogantly demand that all public places are smoke free, regardless of the fact that they probably live a thousand miles away, and only occasionally, if ever, visit. Then to justify their childish beliefs they post links to websites that back up their claims, as if there are none that dispute them!
It is always the British that will come into bars that legally allow smoking, and then sit pretending to cough whilst fanning imaginary wisps of smoke away from themselves. Perhaps when the price of food, drink and hotel rooms increase to make up for the loss of revenue, these people may realize how shortsighted they have been, but I doubt it!

Yes, in Spain children drink alcohol So what?
Half a glass of wine with a meal does not mean the end of civilization as we know it. They also are allowed to accompany adults in bars, where perhaps they learn that alcohol can be enjoyed sensibly. More than can be said for the holiday makers and the Irish St. Patrick's Day celebrators.
And if on one night of the year they decide to go out and get wobbly?.....Well, then they learn what a hangover is as well!

Sorry, but you are way off topic, this thread was not about smoking..we`ve been there and done that over 2 months ago.

And if on one night of the year they decide to go out and get wobbly?.....Well, then they learn what a hangover is as well!

This thread was to highlight the problems that Spain has with under-age drinkers, who don`t just go out once a year to get blitzzed.
Problems that the Health Minister intents to curb, and this may, by introducing new laws affect the tourists as well.

Those St Patrick day celebrators for once were minding their own business and having a drink outside a bar, when they got caught up in the cretin behaviour that we tend to associate with the Brits, but it was the Spanish youths this time.

where perhaps they learn that alcohol can be enjoyed sensibly

That`s just the point..they are not enjoying alcohol sensibly anymore and having Brits walk about tanked-up is one thing, but having Brits and Spaniards tanked up as well is something the present government is not going to tolerate.

If they introduce the new drinking laws everybody, Spaniards and the tourists will have to abide by them...time will tell.

besos xxx
Sanji

I don't think you can compare Britain with Spain, or any other European country for that matter. 'Youf in Britain are the same as 'youf' anywhere, mindless idiots who create trouble. I don't think that attempting to control mindless teenage binge drinking is the thin end of the wedge. Anyway, the half hearted, nominal smoking thing is just Spain keeping EU policy happy - nothing to worry about. Besides, the British anti-smoking obsession is in line with the USA not the EC. As for relaxing our Draconian licensing laws, thank goodness for that, maybe our new labour/tory 'all things to to all men who vote' government have done one good thing after all!