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POLL: Should all beaches be alcohol-free in Spain?
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 @ 4:39 PM

LIFEGUARDS on Spanish beaches want to see alcohol banned to keep bathers safe, pointing out the dangers of drinking and then going into the sea.

In the same way as the public is now conscious of the extreme risk of driving after having consumed alcohol, the Spanish Life-Saving Federation (RFESS) says that same awareness needs to be created among sunseekers.

Although children are the most vulnerable to drowning in pools and the sea, statistically, most victims are adults, the RFESS says.

Exactly a third of those who drown are pensioners, according to safety and prevention commission coordinator Jéssica Pino.

“Age-related physical problems, such as a reduction in mobility, heart conditions and the greater risk of heart attacks that come with age are among the main risks,” Sra Pino says.

“The middle-aged and the elderly are not conscious that their abilities, response times and mobility are gradually reducing – add to this the lack of a culture of first aid knowledge in Spain, and the risk is higher.”

What do you think? Should all beaches be alcohol free or would we be tackling the problem in the wrong way?

Please cast your vote...

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8 Comments

pommers said:
Thursday, July 11, 2019 @ 1:18 PM

Even if you make the actual beaches alcohol free - people will just walk off the beach onto the promenade and find a bar there!

Rustybarge said:
Saturday, July 13, 2019 @ 9:07 AM

True but it is less convenient and you have to make more effort to get the drink

macsco said:
Saturday, July 13, 2019 @ 10:41 AM

Even in the short piece above it points to the main drownings down to the elderly, the young and a lack of first aid knowledge, so why come up with a proposal that will hit masses of people for almost no benefit.
You then wonder if the real reason is to use this as the excuse to stop drinking for social reasons. If so be honest.
btw. I cannot ever remember drinking alcohol on a beach myself.

Teresa McCabe said:
Saturday, July 13, 2019 @ 11:23 AM

It appears from the article that this is a proposed solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

If it did is it fair to punish the many sensible drinkers because of the behaviour of a few.

I don't, as a rule, drink alcohol on the beach but I have enjoyed a glass of wine with lunch at the beach bar.

Radam said:
Saturday, July 13, 2019 @ 11:35 AM

I have participated in local beach cleanup efforts in the Costa Tropical along Granada Province's beautiful shoreline. I think banning beachside smoking would be even more helpful. A recent effort to clean beaches resulted in over 40,000 cigarette butts! These butts get into to waters and are harmful to fish and shellfish. Ban smoking on public beaches!

Baggywrinkles said:
Sunday, July 14, 2019 @ 9:39 AM

A gin and Tonic as the sun goes down on the beach, nothing like it.

migueldelnorte said:
Sunday, July 14, 2019 @ 1:49 PM

The general consensus fortunately seems opposed to banning alcohol. Do we really need a nanny state, or would it be a police state, just to "protect" a few people and thus spoil the pleasure for everybody else? Our freedoms are constantly being eroded and we are in danger of becoming over regulated.

Obviously any preventable death is to be deplored but banning a couple of beers or a glass or two of wine with the family picnic is to take away a large amount of the alegria which is synonymous with Spain. Anyway, how would this be controlled? by having a heavy police presence on all our beaches checking that you are only drinking a coke, or that your fruit sangría does not have any alcohol in it? Or would all drinks have to be banned to ensure an alcohol free beach? Would the beach chiringuitos be banned too?

Commonsense dictates that this is nonsense. Besides totally spoiling the pleasure for millions, controls like that would additionally have a major impact on tourism.

The answer should be rather to encourage people to resume taking responsibility for their own actions and considering other people. A bit more education could go a lot further than bans towards reducing any risk to themselves and others. That includes removing ones litter and cigarette butts then smoking wouldn't have to be banned too.

Ultimately as humans, we are all prone to making mistakes or errors of judgement and you can't legislate against that.

Patrick O' Dwyer said:
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 @ 3:00 PM

Hi, I think drink should not be banned most people enjoy themselves & are responsible but you will always get the few idiots. I think a lot more life rings should be seen on the beaches particularly where I am in Valencia. Having been an ex lifeguard a number of years ago I had to preform a double sea rescue of two children which resulted in a good outcome. Not a life ring is sight on a very popular beach. Went to the town hall to complain but got no satisfaction. Still no life rings there.