Youths fined for drinking water

LOCAL POLICE in Mojácar, Almería, have upheld a fine of €500 imposed on five youths for drinking water.

According to an article published on Tuesday in La Verdad de Murcia, the youths, from Las Torres de Cotillas in Murcia, were approached by police officers early on a Saturday morning last June.

The police report stated that the youths broke Article 4 of the Leisure Activities by-law (Ordenanza de Actividades de Ocio), that prohibits people to congregate for the purpose of drinking or participating in other activities which risk breaking the peace in zones outside those specified by the town hall.   

Although the by-law is unclear, it can be assumed that ‘drinking’ pertains to the consumption of alcohol, and not, as the youths claim in this case, general rehydration.

The young men have said that their appeal of the fine has been rejected, and contend that the police officer who issued them with the infraction has invented new evidence.

A new appeal has been launched by the boys and this time it is to be examined in Mojácar’s Town Hall.

Speaking to La Verdad, one of the youths said: “Now [the police officer] is saying that he found traces of alcohol in drink bottles, as well as plastic cups.

“We only drank water and our lawyer says that the officer can’t put forward new evidence which is untrue.”