On the occasion of World No Alcohol Day, regional health authorities have issued a warning about the consequences of alcohol consumption among adolescents, highlighting its significant impact on mental health.
The latest ESTUDES 2025 survey shows that 64.5% of students aged 14 to 18 in the Balearic Islands consumed alcohol during the past year — a decrease of 8.4 percentage points compared with the previous edition. Despite this improvement, consumption remains high, and selling alcohol to minors continues to be prohibited under Spanish law.
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According to the survey, 31% of students reported getting drunk at least once in the last twelve months, with the percentage rising to 34.2% among female students. Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that affects the brain, can cause addiction and acts as a depressant of the central nervous system.
Health experts note that although alcohol may initially create feelings of euphoria, it later contributes to sadness, anxiety, irritability and aggressive behaviour, and worsens pre-existing mental-health issues. Long-term or intensive consumption can lead to dependency, insomnia, emotional instability and an increased risk of suicidal behaviour, particularly among youth.
Health authorities strongly recommend avoiding alcohol entirely — especially for minors, pregnant or breastfeeding women, drivers, people performing precision-based activities, and individuals taking medication or experiencing health issues.
To raise awareness, the regional Mental Health Directorate and the Balearic Addictions Plan (PADIB) organised the webinar “Alcohol: a public-health problem”, led by Joan Colom, former director of the WHO collaborating centre in Catalonia.