The sun is shining and the popular Levante beach is bustling with British holidaymakers over the extended UK May bank holiday weekend. Sadly this means that the ‘mojiteros’ – or illegal cocktail sellers are also out in force and doing an exceptionally brisk trade today.
Over a one-hour period today I managed to spot numerous men touting their toxic wares up and down the beach, with unfortunately many takers! One young lady, laying on her sunbed with luggage nearby was obviously enjoying her last few hours, clutching a half empty plastic tumbler.
I stopped a gent walking down the prom with a half empty one and asked if he had bought it from the vendor or a bar - usually it is the ladies that fall for this I must say. He had handed over €5 to one of the illegal vendors and I proceeded to inform him of the conditions they were prepared in.
Dirty alleyways, on the floor and extra supplies stored in sewage drains, after which he sensibly placed it in a nearby bin. Each polystyrene tray holds around €30-€40 worth and they were going back and forth replacing stock on a regular basis, with no sign of any police whatsoever.
It has been all over social media – the age group that are generally the ones buying these drinks and also in the UK tabloids on more than one occasion, so shocking that they all appear totally unaware of the risks they are putting themselves in by consuming them – at best just an upset tummy!
As tempting as these bright red or orange tumblers look, with straws and pieces of fruit just pop to one of the numerous bars along the front and buy a proper drink, made in hygienic conditions... there certainly isn't a shortage of bars along that stretch of beach.
I even managed to snap one heading back with his empty tray along the prom - obviously going back to get more supplies to sell to the sadly gullible Brits who actually believe that they are from the bars as I have seen them pointing to them when talking to buyers!
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