Yahoo News Tenerife tourists warned to 'stay alert to island's dark side' after Jay Slater disappearance
A tourist who went to Tenerife as a student has warned others that the island hides a "dark side".
The chilling disappearance of 19-year-old Jay Slater has been making headlines in the past few weeks. The case has highlighted every parent's worst fear when waving their teenager off on their first holiday with friends - only for them to never come back.
It has been more than three weeks since Jay was last sighted in the Tenerife sun on June 17. He had been holidaying with mates Lucy Law, aged 18, and Brad Hargreaves, 19 , and spent his last known evening enjoying the scene at the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas.
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Originally from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, Jay left a lively event in Tenerife by car with two other British individuals and stayed overnight at an Airbnb situated in a secluded rural village, subsequently disappearing without a trace. The venture marked Jay's first-ever trip outside the UK.
The last contact anyone had with him was on the morning of Monday, June 17, as he tried to head back to the bustling tourist area of Los Christianos where he had been residing with his pals Lucy and Brad, reports the Mirror.
By Tuesday, officials said various investigative leads were actively being followed. A Civil Guard spokesperson stated: "The investigation is ongoing and several lines of inquiry are being pursued."
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Ciara O'Loughlin, a 20 year old student, recounted her time living and working in Tenerife with a friend. The duo landed jobs as bartenders and resided in an apartment just a stone's throw away from the bustling Playa De Las Americas - the island's party hotspot.
Despite earning less than €4 per hour serving drinks six nights a week, Ciara described it as "having the time of my life".
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Ciara said: "Most of all, we were excited to have some independence. Like many young tourists on the island, it was our first time tasting such freedom.
"The resort has the recipe for a perfect party holiday - a beautiful beach with boat parties galore, dozens of bars with quality DJs selling cheap drinks, and other like-minded tourists up for having fun.
"But, there is a serious drug underworld operating on the island. It's not hard to see how some Irish and Brits abroad can get caught up in trouble by innocently stepping on the wrong toes."
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She explained how there was an unspoken obligation to drink while on duty - but excessive drinking was the least of their concerns.
"We spent our days laying by the pool or the beach, our nights drinking on the job and our free time getting guestlist access to the best festivals and parties," she said.
"While many work nights were fun because we could drink on the job, you felt like you had to drink. In these bars aimed at tourists, bartenders are expected to do more than serve drinks.
"We had to be fun and upbeat, and when the bar crawls came in it was time to stand on the bar and teach several dances before pouring shots into their mouths.
"Hopping up onto the bar certainly wasn't my thing- which prompted my manager to tell me that I 'needed to be more fun like the other girls'.
"I ended up leaving that venue and I got a much nicer gig serving drinks to hen and stag dos in a Karaoke bar (this didn't do much for my faith in love though, too many brides and grooms went home with the stripper)."
Ciara observed other establishments deeply involved in shadier activities, often acting as a haven for dealers throughout the night. Many young workers, unaware of the serious dangers, became caught up in troubling situations connected to these dealers.
Pointing drug-seeking holidaymakers towards these dealers could earn them a quick €10.
At the same time, while drinking on the job was actively encouraged, a €50 fine would be imposed if you became too intoxicated, which was often more than her nightly earnings.
Additionally, staff were required to put in three or four hours one morning each week to thoroughly clean the bar and faced a €50 penalty for any absence.
She said: "Looking back, I can now see how myself and my friend sometimes had to beg for tips to be able to afford water - while others appeared to be living more comfortable lifestyles."
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"The two summers I spent there were certainly memorable, but I consider myself fortunate not to have encountered any serious issues - except for the time my handbag was forcefully taken from me as I walked home.
"Every country or city has its problems, but these party destinations seem to operate within their own lawless microcosms. To all young people embarking on your first party holiday, enjoy yourselves, but stay alert."
