Current rules in this area, agreed by all Member States, set out minimum rates for alcohol products. These EU rules support the functioning of the Single Market by helping to avoid distortions of competition. They also provide added value in support of other EU priorities such as the fight against tax fraud and public health.
However, the rules around minimum excise duty rates for alcohol products have not been updated since 1992 and have not kept pace with inflation, the evolution of the market, consumption patterns or growing public health concerns. The rules require the Commission to regularly evaluate and report to the Council on the implementation.
And it appears that the regional governments, such as the Balearics, are backing a move to increase the price of alcohol and the age of purchase.
Spanish doctors and health professionals are calling on the Spanish Health Ministry to increase the price of alcoholic beverages, including wine and beer, and the drinking age, as well as strict control of points of sale in order to combat binge drinking, in its draft bill on the prevention of underage drinking.
The Ministry of Health and the Government Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs opened for public consultation the draft bill to protect minors from the negative effects of alcohol and “prevent activities and conduct aimed at promoting, favouring or facilitating its consumption”.
The Health Department intends to fight against binge drinking and thus seeks to promote “healthy lifestyle habits among minors and their education regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages”, as detailed in the objectives of the law, which it intends to develop during this legislature and which does not distinguish wine or beer from other high-proof beverages.
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Adam... Have you even ever been to Mallorca, or Spain?
This is a Spanish problem unfortunately these party's are mostly local Mallorcan Young people getting out of control and right in your face how long has this been going on 10 ,15 20 years yea baby , common folks they will always find the booze to make it to the Party down on the Maritime by the club de Mar and then go to the club Gomila or Pacha later to get some Coke and then go home , Politicians are sickening now there gonna sort this out I thought it was the Brit´s or the Germans but it's also a Spanish problem a Mallorcan problem they can't even shut down the Drug business , raise the legal age for Cokaine . this has been going on for a Great number of years .
Coming from a generation that grew up in the U.K. when strict licensing laws applied to when and where alcohol could be consumed or purchased. I used to marvel at the ease of which booze could be obtained in the continent and how sensible and normal drink was consumed. The famous weekend 10.30 pm last order swills and resultant punch ups I witnessed in the U.K. I rarely saw in continental Europe. The U.K. alcohol liberalisation means booze is available all day everyday. Drunkenness is still a issue particularly among the young. The drunkenness cannot be solved by legislation or liberalism but buy a grown up respect of others and alcohol
The government can fight in favour or against and to what degree as much as it wants but all such laws are only of any use if they are enforced...and we can assume that enforcement will be lacking which in turn renders the law fairly irrelevant..and consequentially the Balearics will have numerous tourists who failed to comply and they will get back on their planes home and nothing will happen....so much for increasing the quality of Balearic tourism!!
As an American where the legal drinking age is 21....let me assure you the age has nothing to do with 'forcing to stop it'. It's even worse there and the kids just get it even younger because it's not allowed. It's more education than anything else.