Bar staff arrested for serving minors drinks
The manager and a waiter at a central Athens bar were arrested during a police raid on Saturday night for serving alcohol to underage customers. Although it is illegal for establishments to serve alcohol to people aged under 17 – or even to allow entry to unaccompanied minors – this law is rarely enforced in a country with no significant youth drinking culture and it is very unusual for bar staff to carry out age checks. The suspects, whose names were not released, allegedly sold alcoholic drinks to five youngsters in a bar in Pangrati. The establishment’s owner was not on the premises during the raid, escaping arrest, but will also be charged. If convicted, all three face sentences of up to two years’ imprisonment, as the offense is regarded as a misdemeanor rather than a petty offense, for which only a fine could be levied.
