The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Perez is proposing to authorize bars along Levante beach to sell drinks on the beach in an attempt to eradicate the illegal cocktail sellers. Since the beginning of June there have apparently been undercover police posing as holidaymakers in an attempt to catch the perpetrators in the act. But all they do is confiscate the drinks and issue a fine – which in reality both know will not be paid. As tempting as they look - do not buy them - ever. They are prepared in the most dirty unhygenic conditions, on the floor and in doorways.
Opposition councilor Rafa Gasent has criticized the proposal, stating it just shows that the current local government cannot control this issue with the sellers. His Ciudadanos Party is opposed to the suggestion, envisaging a turf war between bars and the safety of waiters crossing the road with trays of drinks. Primarily the police should be patrolling more visibly – something that I certainly agree with.
At 1pm there is no police presence at all - they are obviously all at lunch… hasn’t the penny dropped! What they need to do is place permanent police at each intersection with the promenade to stop these vermin from carrying their boxes and polystyrene trays with the disgusting concoctions, which have been made on the floor in totally unhygienic conditions onto the beach.
If you allow authorized people from the bars to sell on the beach it will surely only confuse the holidaymakers. Isn’t it obvious that the illegal sellers will pretend to be from the bars? Gasent suggested that if anything then to follow the example of Gandia, which have ‘Beach Clubs’ with facilities such as toilets to keep the beaches clean - which in effect are chiringito’s like they have up the road in Vila Joyosa, Altea and Albir.
But with the bars on the front less than 100 metres away, is there really a need ?
He also commented that the free wifi zones, promised in October are still not up and running… what have they been doing?
