To combat noise and safeguard the right to rest for residents, the Lisbon City Council (CML) determined the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption outside establishments, throughout the city, from 11 pm on Sunday to Thursday and from midnight on Friday, Saturday and the eve of public holidays, and the measure came into effect on 14 February.

Inappropriate measure

In response to the Lusa news agency, the Lisbon Platform - Our Voices, which includes 19 residents' associations from Lisbon parishes, says that "the measure is timid and clearly inappropriate to the real dimension of the problem experienced in the neighbourhoods with the highest tourist pressure and nightlife," where the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public is considered "the main factor generating noise, disorder and disturbance in the urban space."

Therefore, for the residents, it is necessary to prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public, similar to what already occurs in other European cities, such as Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Amsterdam, Bruges or Berlin, this option being "protective of businesses that operate legally, since consumption returns to being done inside the establishments," while avoiding problems such as illegal street vending or consumption by minors.

“By maintaining the possibility of alcohol consumption on the street, the measure implemented by the Lisbon City Council fails to effectively address the phenomenon of alcohol tourism, which has contributed to the displacement of the resident population, the degradation of public space, nighttime insecurity, and the collapse of the residential function in the most affected parishes,” the Platform emphasises.

Increase in complaints

The Platform has received complaints from residents' associations about “numerous infractions” by various establishments operating illegally, mostly in the parishes of Misericórdia, Estrela, and Arroios, since the inspection “is neither systematic nor consistent” and proves to be of “reduced effectiveness given the scale” of the problem.

Disagreement from the sector

On the other hand, the Portuguese Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Establishments (AHRESP) expresses “serious reservations” about the measure, understanding the need to ensure a balance between the quality of life of residents, safety and tourist attractiveness, but warning that the ban transfers “to economic operators the responsibility of responding to phenomena that, in many situations, are not directly attributable to them”.

AHRESP points out that a large part of the problems stems from individual behaviours or drinks purchased outside establishments; therefore, it considers it “debatable that the response involves imposing generalised restrictions on the sector”, defending exceptions to the ban, such as ‘take-away’ services.

For the association, the uniform application of the measure to the entire city and establishments, regardless of type, location or operating profile, makes it “excessive, unjustified and disproportionate”.

Meanwhile, AHRESP has developed a sign to post in establishments to warn about the ban and is preparing a survey with its members to assess the economic and operational impacts of the measure.

However, it adds, "it will be mainly during the peak tourist season that its real effect on the activity of establishments will be fully perceived."

Measure does not guarantee rest

In a written response sent to Lusa, the president of the Misericórdia Parish Council, Carla Almeida, considers that the measure, “in isolation, is not guaranteeing the rest of the residents”, since “on the ground the reality remains worrying”.

The mayor indicates that large concentrations of people persist in public streets in areas such as Bairro Alto, Cais do Sodré, Praça de São Paulo and Praça das Flores, “with high alcohol consumption, unacceptable noise levels and unregulated occupation of public space”.

According to Carla Almeida, “enforcement has been insufficient,” and phenomena such as the ‘botellón’ continue to occur, where young people gather in public spaces to consume alcoholic beverages, often with portable music boxes, and the accumulation of garbage on public streets.

“The measure is insufficient, its application is uneven, and without acting directly on consumption in public spaces, the problem will not be solved,” emphasizes Carla Almeida, advocating for the revision and reinforcement of the measure, increased monitoring and policing, the application of “clear restrictions on alcohol consumption in public spaces,” the review of practices and licenses incompatible with residential areas, the protection of compliant merchants, and the adjustment of urban cleaning resources to the reality of the territory.

Contrary opinion

On the opposite side, the president of the Estrela Parish Council, which covers the area of ​​bars and nightclubs in Santos, states that the deterrent effect of the measure “has been evident in the monitoring actions carried out” by the council and the Municipal Police, “with no incidents of violation” of the rules being recorded. “We consider it of utmost importance to maintain this prohibition, in order to achieve a fair balance between the right to entertainment and the right to rest for residents of areas where there is a higher concentration of nightlife establishments,” argues Luís Almeida Mendes, in a written response to Lusa.