CHILDREN AS young as 11 are getting drunk every Saturday night, while others openly smoke marijuana just as regularly, a distressed parent said yesterday.
“It happens every week. Kids aged 13, 14 and 15 are getting drunk, doing drugs and staying out till 5am or 6am and everyone is turning a blind eye,” said a 41-year-old mother who wanted her name withheld.
The woman, who has two daughters aged 15 and 12, was referring to Galatex, a popular Limassol hangout for teenagers.
“It’s an area that is full of pubs and bars and across the street there’s a club that they all go to when the bars close at 2am.”
She said young girls were given free shots, bottles of champagne and free passes to clubs to encourage them to drink.
“The girls then entice the boys to go into the clubs,” she said.
The situation had become so out of control that children blatantly flouted their curfews and refused to leave the clubs before the early hours of the morning.
On one occasion she said her 15-year-old and 12-year-old snuck out and were allowed into the club. They later admitted the incident to their mother.
“The point is a 12-year-old should never have been allowed into a club,” she said.
The woman said she and her husband had alerted police and social welfare services about the problem but that both had done nothing.
“The police told my husband that they know there’s a problem but there was a lack of tourism and the clubs have to earn a living too. The social worker also told me she was aware of the problem but couldn’t help. She referred me to a psychologist but my daughter is refusing to go, saying she doesn’t have a problem… So I go instead.”
She added: “It’s disgusting. They’re making money from our children and as long as the men who own the clubs are lining their pockets they don’t care about our youth… I don’t know where else to turn. I’m so frustrated. Everyone says they know it goes on but there’s nothing they can do.”
Yermasoyia police said it was aware of the problem but that due to staff shortages was unable to respond to the problem adequately.
“We know there is a problem, although I’d say 11-year-olds out at that time is rare, and if they are it’s the parents fault letting them out that late… Nevertheless we do try to inspect the clubs and make sure minors are not there.
“The problem is there are only four or five officers per shift, which isn’t enough manpower to cover the workload. We deal with accidents, brawls, and respond to emergencies. If we have time left over we try to carry out spot checks. I’d be lying if I said we do it every weekend though.”
The officer also told the Cyprus Mail there was currently no law forcing club or bar owners to check people’s ID.
“It’s just against the law to serve alcohol to under-18s, although over 16s are allowed to enter the club as long as they have say a juice,” he added.
A Nicosia officer, however, said the law banned under 18s from premises with an alcohol license, raising the question of how the police are supposed to enforce the law when they don’t even know what the rules are.
This lack of legislation brings to the forefront why no one is addressing the youth issue, allowing instead a youth addicted to drugs and alcohol to develop.
The 41-year-old said: “In five years we’ll have a really bad youth. It’s out of control. We left London to escape this and now it’s here…
“People seem to think Cyprus is really safe but you know what, it isn’t safe. Everything goes on underground. Some parents let their children out till two, three, four in the morning, and others have no control.
“I understand that kids want to go out and have a good time but they shouldn’t be drinking and getting themselves into situations they can’t handle or have no control over. I know a girl of 13 who admitted to me she’s been smoking pot since she was 11.
“Others have had abortions at 15 because of what they did when they were drunk. The issue needs to be addressed and laws need to be tightened. If it’s not, this problem will go on a long time and get worse.”
