alcohol Culture

Drinking is a casual, normal part of everyday life in Spain. There is a time and a place for different alcoholic beverages and drinking to get drunk is socially frowned upon.

• • Drinking Age. The legal alcohol drinking age in Spain used to be 16, but in 2009, they changed the law and raised the legal drinking age to 18.

  • Family Factor. As we all know, Spain is famous for its high-quality wine production so culturally many families believe it wouldn’t hurt to let minors just to have a sip, just so they would know what it tastes like.

  • Botellón. There is also a law that forbids stores to sell alcoholic drinks after 10pm to avoid botellón, a Spanish phenomenon where people gather in public areas to drink. The activity is popular among teenagers and young people as an alternative to typical nightlife, as it's seen as an economical way to drink with people before going out to bars or clubs. IMPORTANT: You must know that this is stricly prohibited by law and that you can get a hefty fine for doing so.

  • Nightlife hours. Although bars can be open until 3am, it is more common to stay out late at bigger clubs. Clubs usually open at midnight and locals tend to go show up starting at 1-2am and they party until 5-6am when the clubs close. Having breakfast before going home is also very common. Clubs that open earlier than midnight are meant for tourists and are way more expensive. 

  • Opinions of being drunk. When out at a club, you'll find that locals might have only 1 or 2 drinks during the whole night. Drinking too much or being clearly drunk is really looked down upon by locals. The main reason for locals to party is to socialize, spend time with friends, and dance. So, if you want to truly live a local experience, it's important to watch how much you drink!

  • Strength of drinks in clubs. You need to take into consideration that in clubs it's not common for bartenders to measure the amount of alcohol that they pour into cubatas (mixed drinks), so it is your call to tell them when it's enough. Also, as you would anywhere, it is very important that you never leave your drink unattended. 

The Spanish National Drug Plan says that alcohol use comes in at around 11.2 liters per head a year, twice the global average (6.2) and higher than Europe’s average (10.9). But at the same time, 31% of Spain's population claims that they never drink. Beer is drank by 50% of the population, followed by spirits (28%), and wine (20%).

It’s certainly true that alcohol runs through the veins of Spanish society, and is a part of its DNA: wine has always been present at meals, with young children traditionally allowed a sip or two mixed with lemonade, and gin was even given to young girls to help with period pain. Traffic police used to be seen enjoying a morning coffee and brandy in roadside restaurants before heading out on duty, and the country’s cultural history is full of boozy writers. And today, many restaurants still offer customers who have already had a few beers and half a bottle of wine a shot of some powerful spirit at the end of the meal on the house.

When and what to drink? 

At a dinner on a weekend...

Having a glass of wine is common for dinner, especially if you're out at a restaurant.

Meeting with local friends on a Sunday at lunch time...

The usual would be having a beer or a vermút. In warmer months, people like to drink a Clara, which is a beer mixed with lemonade. 

Having a chill night out with friends at a local bar... 

Locals would have one or two beers but never anything stronger than that.

Going to a fancy cocktail bar with friends...

One cocktail is what locals would usually order for 2 hours. Usual cocktails in the summer are mojitos, Tinto de Verano, or Agua de Valencia, which are very typical from Spain. 

Going out to a club...

Having one or two cubatas (mixed drinks) is the usual for a 5 hour long night out dancing. If you drink more than this, it is likely that locals will identify you as a tourist that is not familiar or respectful of local customs.

Cerveza (Beer) is very common in Spain. Spain has around 280,000 bars (roughly one bar for every 165 people, one of the highest rates in the European Union). Usually you have beer on tap in a small glass known as a caña. You can also order a copa, which is a cup of beer or a Jarra (a large jar).  When you order a bottle of beer in Catalonia we refer to it as a Mitjana (Mediana in Spanish). There is also a smaller version which is a Quinto in Catalonia and Tercio in the rest of Spain. The brand of beer you have depends a lot on the region you are in. In Catalonia, we usually have Estrella Damm or Moritz, which are both produced in Barcelona. In the south of Spain we usually have Cruzcampo since the factory is located in Seville. Mahou is another popular beer commonly found in Madrid.  

Vino (Wine) is definitely the most common alcoholic beverage for Spaniards. There are several regions that are known for having a very high quality of wine production, such as La Rioja. Wine is often served during meals, not just on special occasions. At restaurants, people can order glasses or, if the group is large enough, a bottle.

Cubatas (mixed drinks) are not to be confused with cocktails. Spaniards like to keep it simple - we pour a soda and we mix it with a spirit such as Rum or Gin. It is quite common that, when ordering, the bartender will ask you which brand of alcohol you want. Cubatas are usually what people have when they party in clubs, but they usually drink just one or two for a whole night out. 

Cócteles (cocktails) are becoming more popular in big cities such as Barcelona or Madrid. Gin & Tonics and Mojitos are some of the more popular drinks. However there are some mixes that are quite cultural and tied to the region.

• Agua de Valencia is from the Valencian Community. Made with Cava, orange juice, vodka and gin. 

• Pomada is from the Balearic Islands, specifically Menorca. It's made by mixing gin with lemonade. 

• Tinto de Verano and Calimocho is from the south of Spain. Tinto de Verano is quite close to Sangría but is just made with red wine and gaseosa (a bubbly water).The Calimocho uses Coke instead of gaseosa. 

• Sangría (originally from the Spanish colonies in South America) consists of red wine, chopped fruit, gin and vodka. There is also a version called Sangría de Cava that uses Cava instead of red wine. 

Licor (liqueurs) are brought to the table in chupito glasses and they are typically enjoyed after big meals, particularly on weekends. If you are in a restaurant, the waiter will ask you which kind you would like to have. The purpose is to help you digest and the most common ones in Catalonia are the licor de hierba and the Ratafia.

Carajillo is a drink combining coffee with brandy and its origin dates to the times when Cuba was a Spanish colony. You can also have other types of liquor such as Whiskey or Anisette. It is quite typical among elderly people to order them after meals instead of a café solo or cortado. 

Sidra (cider) is common in the north of Spain (in the Basque Country and Asturias) and made with the juice of an apple. It’s poured out about a foot or so above the glass in a slow stream, a technique known as escanciar. The sidra is drank from January until April in the Sidrerias (cider wineries). It is not common to find it in the supermarket or in bars. 

Vermút (vermouth) is commonly enjoyed with friends or family before having lunch, usually on the weekend (especially on Sundays). Spaniards gather in bodegas to enjoy a vermouth that usually comes with some olives and a slice of lemon.