Beach bars in Spain can disappear Apr 21, 2009

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Spanish beaches may soon abandon their main attraction –  chiringuito or beach bars, which for decades offered tourists the cool shadow, paelia, and sangria. The owners blame the Ministry of Environmental Protection for wanting to leave thousands of beach bars without business as early as this spring and beginning of summer. The owners of beach cafes and restaurants are talking about the fact that their businesses are a part of the cultural heritage of Spain, a summer tradition formed over many years. Meanwhile the Ministry notes that the prohibition of beach bars will answer the problem of over-crowded Spanish beaches. The authorities maintain that the so-called "law of the coast" should be considered in that it does not allow any structures to be built on sand. They also affirm that beach bars will not disappear forever. Instead they will move into the towns and appear along the boardwalks, Guardian informs.

Servando Sindocha, the owner of a bar on Guadalmar beach, Costa del Sol, says that the restaurants were built around here since the early ‘50s, when tourism just arrived to Malaga. "If the authorities will move our businesses into the cities they will cease to be chiringuitos, and will become regular restaurants. Foreign tourists preferred our service because it was a question of tradition. If we leave the beaches the tradition will vanish." Representatives of various political parties in Spain are trying to support the owners of beach bars and restaurants, whose yearly capital turnover exceeded €900 million.

"They never harmed the environment, notwithstanding that the foreclosure of the beach bars will cause job loss for thousands of people." –says Javier Arenas, the leader of opposition People’s Party of Andalusia. "We, the socialists, will protect chiringuitos until their future will not be guaranteed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection", -declared Miguel Angel Eridia, the representative of the ruling Spanish Party. The owners of the beach bars also ask their customers to sign a petition calling the Ministry to reevaluate its decision.