The Education Department of Alicante City Council has brought together residents from various generations in a participatory event aimed at collaboratively designing new alcohol-free leisure alternatives for young people across the city. This initiative, titled 'Great stories don't need alcohol', also includes plans for participatory activities targeted at 16-year-olds in secondary schools and community associations over the coming months.
According to Mari Carmen de España, the city's Education Councillor, the primary goal is to prevent alcohol consumption among young people while promoting a positive perspective on youth leisure. She emphasised the importance of engaging young people, families, and various representatives from Alicante's social fabric in the design of these alternatives to ensure their success.
The event, held at the Gymnasium of Ideas, featured a community activity where young people, parents, educators, associations, experts, journalists, and institutional representatives shared experiences and perspectives to tackle a common challenge: exploring new alcohol-free leisure and celebration options for adolescents, leveraging the opportunities provided by public spaces in Alicante.
Intergenerational collaboration
One of the most notable aspects of the event was the collaboration among individuals from different generations and sectors of Alicante society, including sports associations, cultural groups, and youth organisations. The conclusions drawn from the activity were documented in six murals for further analysis.
Each intergenerational group reviewed various city spaces where these alcohol-free 'great stories' could be activated, discussing and presenting their ideas at the end of the session. The workshop also addressed potential obstacles that could hinder access to or enjoyment of these alternatives, such as issues related to scheduling, transportation, costs, and the lack of information or proposals tailored to their interests.
The aim was to go beyond merely identifying spaces and activities, seeking solutions that would transform Alicante's opportunities into real and accessible experiences for young people. Proposals included initiatives to improve access to sports and cultural venues during leisure time, with ideas such as 'Alicante Pursuit', 'Tardea con los tuyos', 'DDD: disciplinary, sporty, fun', 'Creactívate', 'Youth self-management of spaces', and 'Cool weekends'.
While some plans involve the creation and adaptation of new spaces, most groups advocated for improving access to existing venues through more flexible hours and content. During discussions, participants highlighted the need for better information regarding available public spaces.
The event also showcased how, in recent years, a new way of enjoying major city events has emerged, exemplified by 'Santa Faz 0.0', which has become a reference for alcohol-free celebrations, contrasting with the traditional drinking culture that previously accompanied the pilgrimage.
