The Local Police are carrying out a much more comprehensive monitoring of the weekly ‘botellón’ held each weekend in the Parque Verano Azul due to complaints received from local residents.
The police are trying to ensure that the drinking stops by 01:30, the time limit set by the Council when it authorised this location for the botellón.
The Council acknowledges that allowing drinking in the local public park carries with it numerous problems, from disturbance to local residents to damage to municipal furniture, but also acknowledges that the situation is complex.
Under national law, the Council is obliged to provide a space for the youngsters to drink in public, and they have done so. What the Council wants, however, is for this to be compatible with the rest of the community, namely local residents, businesses and local bars.
Local bars complain that they lose custom as a result of the street drinking, where people buy their own booze from the supermarkets rather than patronising the bars. The Councilor for Security, Jonathan Méndez, suggested that bars should also make an effort as one of the main complaints of the youngsters, and the reason for the popularity of the botellón, is that the price of drinks in many bars is too high.
The Council is keen to redress the situation and even has the option to ban the botellón, although this would seem unlikely. Another possibility is a relocation of the botellón, especially in view of upcoming plans to carry aout comprehensive building and renovation work in the Parque Verano Azul.
It always seems a shame, in any situation, when someone, be it private individual or public authority, provides a requested service, and often despite not agreeing with the principle, only to see it abused. Usually by a minority.
Perhaps a (leading) member of the Council should address an assembled ‘botellón’ to try and make some sort of agreement regarding a bit of self-discipline in exchange for continued support.