No more drinking on the streets of Lisbon. This may result in a four-digit fine (in euros, of course)

The ban on the night sale of takeaway alcohol in public places, approved by the Lisbon City Hall, divides residents of the Portuguese capital and entrepreneurs. The restrictions will come into force on February 16.

As Miguel Pinto, the head of Adapt, operating in the catering and hotel sector, said in an interview with PAP, the date of entry into force of the new law is not accidental.

– Regulations banning the sale of takeaway alcohol at night will come into force just before the start of the spring seasonwhen more and more holidaymakers come here. The City Hall strives to reduce the noise level in the capital at night. It is a pity that these restrictions were not introduced only in the most noisy parts of the city and were not limited only to food gardens – admitted Pinto.

The HoReCa industry criticizes the city hall's decision: The regulations are too restrictive

A similar opinion is expressed by the head of the Portuguese association of the hotel and catering sector, AHRESP, Ana Jacinto, who drew attention to the losses that the ban on night sales of alcohol in Lisbon will bring to many entrepreneurs. He considers the new regulations “too restrictive and general.”

According to the regulations published in the Bulletin of the Lisbon City Council, the ban on outdoor sales of alcohol at night by restaurants, bars, discos, cinemas, theaters and hotels will apply from Sunday to Thursday from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., and from Friday to Saturday – from midnight to 8 p.m. 8.

Penalties for breaking the regulations amount to EUR 150-1,000 for individuals and EUR 350-3,000 for collective entities..

The Lisbon authorities explained in a justification that the massive influx of tourists to the city in recent years and – as a consequence – the deterioration of the night entertainment offer “have harmed the quality of life of residents, especially due to excessive noise at night.”

Excessive noise is mainly related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces and groups of people outside the premises – the capital authorities justified the restrictions, adding that the ban, exceptionally, will not be enforced in June, when the so-called Lisbon holidays (Festas de Lisboa).

The city hall authorities noted that Lisbon is not the first city to implement restrictions on night sales of alcohol. The capital authorities draw on the experience of Porto and Albufeira, where such regulations are already in force.

Residents of Lisbon: We do not have to accept excesses

Ana Sena, a resident of downtown Lisbon, told PAP that the new regulations do not necessarily involve limiting the number of tourists coming to the Portuguese capital.

– Many Lisboners, like the city, make their living from tourism. This does not mean, however, that we should be trustworthy and downplay the increasing excesses of holidaymakers behaving noisily on our streets after drinking alcohol. If they turn their backs on Lisbon, new people will certainly appear who will find a peaceful holiday here, without noise and drinking, she concluded.

Inhabited by 550 thousand people. Over 5 million tourists visit Lisbon every year.

From Lisbon Marcin Zatyka

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