Spain's coastal cities grapple with mass drinking parties and rising drug‑related violence

In the residential area of Vial Flora de España in Alicante, residents report that weekend evenings have turned into a large‑scale open‑air drinking party, with cars parked along the street, trunks opened, alcohol and loud music filling the night until the early morning. The neighborhood association says the phenomenon has persisted for years and intensifies during summer, overwhelming local cleaning efforts.

In Valencia's Chinatown district, locals describe a surge in drug use, violent assaults and house raids. A spokesperson for the Amics de Velluters association attributes the deterioration to reduced police patrols, the return of a former prison inmate involved in prostitution, and the spread of fentanyl. Incidents involving knives and multiple robberies have prompted complaints to the city council, with residents calling for stronger police presence and municipal action.

Both cities face growing public‑order challenges as authorities struggle to balance nightlife activity with community safety.