Tippling in Spain

Have you ever heard the argument that drinking is not a problem in other countries because their citizens are allowed to drink at a younger age?

Well, this past Friday Spaniards have gotten global attention for their alcohol "problems". It all started when cities began competing with other cities as to who could throw a larger outdoor party.

For this was an orchestrated contest to establish which of some 20 Spanish cities could bring on to streets the biggest number of young drinkers. The unprecedented competition, or macro-botellon ("mega big bottle"), resulted in clashes with baton-wielding police in Barcelona and Salamanca that lasted until dawn, resulting in more than 50 arrests and 80 people being injured.

The practice of drinking alcohol bought from supermarkets in public places took root initially in Andalusia as a cheap and agreeable alternative to bar-hopping among students and young people.

Any of this sound familiar?

Link from the Independent.