The Cantabrian Hospitality Business Association has expressed its “concern” about the proliferation of street parties in the region. The “uncontrolled” summer street parties take place on beaches or in cities “without the security or control measures” that the employers’ association demands with the rigor that is required of regulated establishments. The group condemns the “unfair competition” carried out on the guild by these “events and activities that carry out their activity without having the necessary licenses and permits” and stresses the lack of security in these gatherings. The Government of Cantabria (PP) has not yet made a statement regarding this claim and spokespersons for the group say they are waiting for a meeting to deal with the problem.
The platform that brings together Cantabrian hoteliers has issued a statement in which it “expresses its concern about the proliferation of irregular activities and uncontrolled drinking parties that are taking place in the region without the necessary security or control measures.” This security issue is the main complaint of the group, which is also critical of “the total impunity” with which the practice of drinking parties is spreading in cities and towns. The problem is getting worse “without a clear and conclusive action plan being specified to put an end to the problems derived from it, security, disturbances, neighbourly nuisance and dirt.”
The hospitality association is particularly focusing on “fairs, discos and street parties” as sources of these crowds for the consumption of alcohol in public places, without consuming in bars with the relevant licenses and generating the damage that they perceive on their economic activity. The protests also affect the lack of schedules for these celebrations, since “the operation of fairs, discos and street parties systematically violates the regulations on noise pollution since they last for absolutely disproportionate hours that reach the early hours”, thus exercising unfair competition, in their opinion, in establishments with a set schedule.
The Cantabrian hospitality industry has asked for special control over those events where the permits are not always complied with and they have compared this especially with the complete freedom of those botellones. “Leisure and hospitality venues are subject to all kinds of controls and regulations that offer complete confidence,” they point out, while these gatherings lack the security that they demand. Spokespersons for the hospitality industry assure EL PAÍS that they are “awaiting a meeting” with the Government of Cantabria.
The growing number of tourists in Cantabria each summer is leading to these types of drinking parties in all kinds of places. In recent weeks there have been mass gatherings, with hundreds of people, on the Puntal de Somo beach, a very popular place for bathers due to its landscape and tranquillity opposite Santander. The place is reached by boats from transport companies or by sailboats or small and medium-sized private boats heading to a beach bar on the beach. Hundreds of people congregate there, especially at weekends, who also bring drinks with them and end up causing disturbances in the natural environment. This overcrowding was attempted to be controlled by the Civil Guard, with marine patrols, which issued five fines to sailboat drivers for speeding, lack of documentation or driving under the influence of alcohol.
The recent Semana Grande (Big Week) in Santander, held in the last days of July, has also brought with it massive drinking parties in the Cantabrian capital. Areas such as Cañadío, where there are several nightlife venues, have seen large crowds of people consuming alcohol in public and causing disruptions to security, public order and cleanliness.
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