The Department of Social Welfare, through the Department of Drug Dependency Prevention, will promote a public awareness campaign to prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol to children under 18 on the occasion of the patron saint festivities of Santa Eulalia and Christmas.
The awareness campaign also aims to warn about the risks of consuming alcoholic beverages and other drugs, especially in young people, coinciding with this holiday season.
On other occasions, materials on the prohibition of the sale of alcohol to children under 18 have been distributed, as a reminder for the dispensing establishments, and informative brochures for the prevention of risks associated with the abuse of alcoholic beverages and synthetic drugs.
In addition, the merchants have been informed, as a reminder, of the content of the regulatory ordinance on the sale, dispensing and supply of alcoholic beverages, as well as the consequences that the owners of these establishments have for the consideration of minor infractions and serious.
The area of ​​Health Promotion, recalls that the damage caused by alcohol is especially serious during adolescence, a stage where you are in the process of physical and psychological development.
At these ages, there is not enough maturity to correctly evaluate the risks involved in their consumption.
The Councilor for Social Welfare, Javier Baños, said that, while being aware of the limitations of resources with what local government has, "we can not give up the commitment and need to raise awareness of the establishment on the consequences that the sale of alcohol it can be among teenagers. "
Failure to comply with the municipal ordinance entails administrative sanctions and fines ranging from 150 to 12,000 euros, depending on the cases.
It is estimated that approximately three out of four students between 14 and 18 years old have tried alcohol and, more than half of them drink it regularly.
When they drink, they do it especially during the weekend and, almost half of these, even get drunk.
