Boozy Expat Brits In Spain Under Alcohol Ban Again

Brit expats in Valencia have wrecked their chances of post-lockdown pints by totally ignoring social distancing rulings.

As soon as the popular British expat destination’s pubs reopened after its lockdown was lifted, Brits desperate for an evening on the booze flocked to their favourite watering holes in their hundreds, totally ignoring the local government’s call to protect themselves and others by maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. Sadly, the call was ignored, resulting in crowded terraces full to the brim with revellers and an immediate reinstatement of the booze ban.

One of the worst areas was the popular La Marina de Valencia, set on the city’s charming waterfront and home to bars and terraces as well as the wall of the marina itself, a popular seating area for drinkers. The crowds of revellers who arrived took over the promenade, the terraces and the walls, with very few wearing masks and none keeping a safe space between themselves and other revellers. One video showing the chaos was soon shared on social media, bringing local government attention to the packed terraces and waterfront.

As a result, the reopened bars and pubs are now shut down again, with their owners facing fines as well as having security cameras installed in their premises in order to monitor the numbers of drinkers. Spain’s economic dependency on its tourism trade is causing the authorities to reopen the country to overseas visitors as soon as the beginning of July, but Valencia’s opening is set to be delayed for at least one more week.