[Alcohol abuse by young people in Spain]

Although the overall consumption of alcohol is falling in Spain we have, for years, been seeing an increase in alcohol consumption by the young. This has taken the form of episodes of drunkenness or quantities of alcohol being drunk within a few concentrated hours to reach a certain level of drunkenness, what the Anglo-Saxons call "binge drinking". The most typical name for this phenomenon -although not the only one- is the botellón which is, in fact, no more than one of the expressions to describe drinking alcohol in the nighttime recreational spaces at the weekend. It is of some concern that, in conjunction with a leading position in the use of illegal drugs, Spain is also so rapidly incorporating this pattern of alcohol consumption, and one that has never formed part of our traditions. However, it does not appear that these issues are a priority for Spanish society, as has been confirmed by sociological surveys, and by the way in which the law intended to regulate alcohol consumption by minors was recently withdrawn. Diverse aspects must be taken into account if we wish to see a reversal in the current situation: the active role of the alcohol and recreation industries, the overall passive role of the professionals in alcohol and drugs in public debate, lack of determination by the authorities, the discourse in the media, the difficulty that the adult world has of taking up a position on these behaviours. Failure in not starting to act now will make it all more difficult in the future.