In addition to the smoking ban on the street announced last year, the city council will investigate whether it is also legally feasible to introduce a collection ban for soft drugs. That pick-up ban would then apply from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Thursday to Sunday.
The measures are part of the package announced last year to combat the crowds and nuisance in the Red Light District. In addition to the smoking ban, the alcohol sales ban will also be tightened from mid-May. From April 1, the closing times for catering and prostitution will be brought forward.
Catering establishments will then have an adjusted closing time of 02:00 in the night, instead of 03:00 or 04:00. Also, no new visitors are allowed in from 01:00.
“Because this does not work when the terraces are still open, the council also wants the terraces to close at 01:00 in the summer months (now 02:00)”, the municipality said. For window prostitution, the closing times will be 03:00 instead of 06:00.
Nuisance
“Residents of the old city center are structurally and excessively bothered by the crowds and nuisance caused by mass tourism and substance abuse in the public space,” says the municipality.
Moreover, the presence of tourists would attract street dealers, who in turn would cause crime and insecurity. “Especially at night, the atmosphere can become grim; many people are under the influence and hang around for a long time. This is at the expense of the residents’ night’s sleep and the quality of life and safety of the entire neighborhood.”
