One of the largest problems in Spain now is underage drinking and illegal drug use amongst the young population of large cities. The problem is deliberately kept out of the media as a "un-narratable" event because it would create panic amongst the parents in the society. While most of the parents are aware of the problem, they do not seem to be aware of the degree to which the problem has escalated. The drinking age in most of Spanish speaking countries is 16, but most children start drinking even younger than that. What's even worst is that instead of drinking beer, many of the young kids become intoxicated by intaking hard liquor such as vodka and tequila.
Certain parts of Spain, especially in Mallorca, are home to constant 24/7 partying because of the amount of tourism they receive. Here, children go out at night just like the adults and drink at the "Botellon", or a designated drinking area for the younger crowd. Here they drink before going to the bars to avoid paying high drink prices. In essence, they overly intoxicate themselves so that they stay intoxicated all night at the bars without paying for drinks. Most parents are unaware of this problem because they are asleep when the children arrive home at 5 or 6AM, when the bars close.
While the underage drinking doesn't cause an excess in crime and results in little drunk driving incidents (driving age is 21 in Spain), young people's brains, brains that are still developing, are being subjected to abnormal amounts of alcohol in short periods of time.
[1]http://www.thesaraservice.com/propertynews/spanish-government-plans-to-combat-binge-drinking.html
[1]http://www.expatica.com/es/essentials_moving_to/country_facts/El-botell_n_-binge_drinking-Spanish-style_11517.html
[1]http://www.miperiodicodigital.com/edicion2010/articulo.php?id=6061
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