Greece to protect tourists from dangerous drinks

Greece has embarked on a major campaign aimed at stopping bars from serving unsuspecting tourists alcoholic cocktails laced with dangerous-and potentially deadly-industrial spirits. The move comes after a teenaged British tourist died upon consuming one of these poisonous cocktails. The ominous drinks are called “bombes” and Greek authorities believe that they are especially common in some bars located on the island of Crete. While tourists are frequently expected to shoulder the blame for the consequences of excessive drinking, Greek authorities now believe that the quality of the alcohol being served in cocktails may be an even more important in terms of displays of dangerous behaviour following intoxication.

Some bar owners in Greece have decided to secretly combine alcohol with industrial spirits, in order to cash in on an even larger profit and tourists do not normally know what they are in for when they are served such cocktails. Some Greek bars are able to advertise very attractive, low prices and thus appeal to budget-minded tourists, because they include industrial spirits in their drinks. In order to tackle this increasingly pressing problem, the Greek tourism minister, Aris Spiliotopoulos, is proposing that inspectors be sent out to bars and night clubs, in order to check for “bombes” at any time during the day or evening.

This concern about the effects of excessive drinking and lethal spirits came to the fore earlier this week, after a group of rowdy, troublesome British tourists caused havoc at a Greek resort and were taken into custody by local police.

Thank you to The Guardian for the initial report.