Typical prices in Benidorm

Th UK Government is looking to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol as part of a drive to tackle problem and binge drinking, which has become a major issue especially among the younger generation.  But for some reason it predominantly affects the British youngsters - take a look around Benidorm, you rarely see any other nationalities drunk and out of control! The proposed Home Office scheme will ban the sale of alcohol for less than 45 pence per unit - estimating that it would reduce alcohol consumption by 3.3% and subsequently reducing crime and hospital admissions relating to alcohol induced behaviour.

Bodega in Spain where you buy wine by the litre

However, it emerged yesterday that the proposal may break EU rules .... its the do-gooders sticking their noses in again! But those in the alcohol industry have also opposed the proposals - obviously as it will affect their profits. Scotland already have a 50 pence minimum pricing and Alex Salmond, the First Minister has been informed by EU officials that he may be contravening EU rules.... maybe England will wait and see if anything happens on that.

1 lt wine costs less than proposed unit price in UK!

The 45 pence minimum would mean that a can of strong lager could not be sold for less than 1.56GBP,  a bottle of wine for less than 4.22GBP and a 1 litre bottle of spirit for less than 16.88 GBP. At present many supermarkets sell alcohol at a loss in order to get customers through its doors.....  a can of own label lager can cost less than a bottle of water!

Virtually every bar in the centre advertises on boards outside with their cheap drink offers.... 1 euro for a pint of beer is normal, particularly in the low season - during the summer it sometimes goes up to 1.50 euro! Even cafes offer coffee with a brandy or a liqueur for as little as 1.50 euro... and its a generous measure of spirit too PLUS a slice of cake! It is sometimes very hard to remain teetotal here...

You can pay a visit to one of the many local bodegas in the region - Jalon is famous for their wine making. There you can sample the different wines and sherries that they produce and purchase it by the litre straight from the barrel! You see locals coming in with their own 5 litre water containers and filling up like at the petrol station! Most restaurants buy wine like this then distill into carafes or jugs and explains why a bottle of wine is offered with a menu del dia - its only costing them 50 cents a litre!

Hen group enjoying the night life!

Many Brits come on holiday to Benidorm specifically because the alcohol is so much cheaper here than back in the UK. The town is rife with Stag & Hen parties, particularly in the Spring time, arriving on a Friday for a 3 or 4 day manic drinking session. They will often have drunk the equivalent of  months worth of alcohol in those few days and have a very hazy recollection of the weekend, as was verified to me by a taxi driver taking a stag group back to the airport. When the groups arrive on a Friday they are loud and gregarious but the return journey tells a different story... they are green and subdued - often still extremely hungover and its a wonder that in some cases they are allowed to fly!

I somehow don´t think that it would even be considered here - rowdy drunken behaviour is certainly not an issue among the locals in the resort and half the bars would go bust! If anything, its the small minority of British holiday makers but most are harmless, only here to have a good time.... and long may it continue!

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