Drinking culture

Municipal police shut down a Thessaloniki club on the city's coastal road Thursday morning after three underage patrons were hospitalized from consuming alcohol and falling ill.

The three patrons, two boys aged 15 and 16, and a girl aged 14, were transported to hospital with symptoms of alcohol poisoning. 

Following a series of incidents involving underage alcohol consumption, the government is enacting urgent legislation to combat the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors.

High school parties held at clubs across the Greek capital, often involving underage drinking and exposure to dangerous, poor-quality alcohol, have become a lucrative business with students frequently recruited by clubs as "promoters" to attract peers, former participants have told Kathimerini. 

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas on Wednesday recommended the permanent closure of a nightclub on central Vouliagmenis Avenue for serving alcohol to minors.

The club's management has been accused of serving bootleg liquor to minors during a school party last Saturday, during which eight students aged 14 to 17 had to be hospitalized with alcohol poisoning. 

Underage drinking came to the fore at the weekend after eight minors were hospitalized after consuming suspected tainted alcohol at a bar on Vouliagmenis Avenue in Athens during a school dance. The incident occurred early Sunday morning, with students aged 14 to 17 showing signs of severe intoxication.

The 20-year-old manager of an Athens nightclub has been arrested after eight teenagers were hospitalized with alcohol poisoning over the weekend.

The manager of the Vouliagmenis Avenue business has been charged with endangering minors, while the nightclub is being investigated for other possible infractions.

Eight minors were transported to the hospital early Sunday morning after consuming alcohol at a nightclub in Athens.

According to the police, shortly after 2:00 a.m., eight high school students attending an event organized by Attica high schools at a nightclub on Vouliagmenis Avenue suddenly felt unwell.

The actor spoke about the time when he was addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Al Pacino says he stopped all substance abuse as he noticed it affecting his memory.

The Hollywood star has previously opened up about his struggles with addiction, to both alcohol and drugs, as part of his effort to cope with fame.

A couple and their 2-year-old child are on life support after being hit by a car near the northern port city of Thessaloniki on Wednesday morning.