Over the past 12 months authorities have launched over 1,000 administrative proceedings associated with the new law, 150 of which related to the selling of alcohol to minors, in some cases to children as young as 13.
This, ASAE said, is a problem that worsens in summer and which has driven the authority to up its efforts in clamping down on the country’s main music festivals.
ASAE said during the summer holidays it will be reinforcing its vigilance “at summer festivals or other events, as well as in busy public areas.”
Two major music festivals, NÓS Alive and Super Bock Super Rock get underway this month.
At last year’s NÓS Alive festival, ASAE health and safety officers caught and identified four minors for underage drinking.
The officers inspected 64 vendors and launched action after four under-18s were caught with alcohol.
During the operation, which took place between 9 and 11 July 2015, ASAE also detected a lack of hygiene requirements and the selling of cigarettes to minors at the festival.
Festival promoters have suggested the answer could be solved by providing verified over-18s with ID bracelets.
Portugal’s drinking law was changed last July to prohibit under-18s from drinking all types of alcohol, whereas prior to that over-16s were allowed to drink wine and beer.
Information provided to newspaper Diário de Notícias from ASAE this week said since the new law came into force on 1 July 2015, 114 minors aged 13 to 17 have been caught and identified for underage drinking, the equivalent of two a week.
But, the authority said, that number makes up just 75 percent of cases. On top of those are many more incidents registered by the GNR and PSP police.