Heavy sanctions "do not solve" botellon in Porto

The president of the Porto Movida Bars and Nightclubs Association believes that the new rules of the Movida regulation in Porto, with heavier penalties, can help combat the botellon phenomenon, but does not solve it.

The new rules of the Porto Movida regulation come into force next Wednesday, the 25th, and the sale of alcohol for consumption on public roads between 9 pm and 8 am will be prohibited throughout the city of Porto.

In a telephone interview with the Lusa news agency, Miguel Camões, president of the Porto Movida Bars and Nightclubs Association, believes that heavier penalties and sanctions can help combat the botellon phenomenon, but do not solve the problem.

“All measures are welcome, but they don’t solve anything . The issue of botellon is an important one, because it is often made with drinks that people bring from home or buy in supermarkets during the day and, therefore, it is not the establishments that sell the drinks so that people can make these botellons on the street”. “For us, and for our association, this regulation has some changes, but some of them are more technical and the impact they have on the core of Porto’s nightlife, which is the area with the most bars and clubs, is much more in terms of penalties and sanctions than the rules themselves”, he considered.

Miguel Camões recalls that the situation of selling alcohol on public roads already existed and the difference is that it was extended to the entire city of Porto. “If the intention of the Porto City Council is to somehow control the phenomenon of botellon, it makes sense that this rule be extended to the entire city”, he said. The issue of botellon “must be combated with a general law, which legislates so that the consumption of alcohol on public roads is not permitted , whether it is purchased in establishments or brought from home”, he argued, noting that often the focus of “disturbances and insecurity on public roads comes from these phenomena of unregulated alcohol consumption on public roads”.

The president of the Portuguese Association of Bars and Nightclubs, Ricardo Tavares, said he had doubts that the new rules for Porto's nightlife would solve the problem of the botellon phenomenon. “Operationally, I don't think this will bring any improvements to the city or to those who live there, it will only bring more problems for the business owners who already have a lot”, defended Ricardo Tavares.

Ricardo Tavares believes that the measure is not very sensible, because the one who is drinking on the street in prohibited areas is the customer and the one who will be sacrificed is the businessman .

“The municipal police are not going to be issuing fines to people who are drinking in the street, because that is too annoying for them. It is easier to go to a business owner and say 'the place is closed', because that way it is less of a problem”. There is “zero common sense” , he added.

The person in charge considered that “in practical terms it will result in more convenience stores selling illegally, many of which do not even pay taxes (…), so it is all against those who comply”.

Ricardo Tavares argues that street socializing, known as the botellon phenomenon, will not cease to exist. “The only thing that will exist will be fines for bars and restaurants (…) which will receive many fines and will go bankrupt,” he stressed.

According to the businessman, the new rules will not “reduce noise” and “will not bring any security”. Instead, they will “bring more problems for businesspeople”, he noted.

“In Lisbon, we have been negotiating with engineer Carlos Moedas and it seems to us that he will be more sensible than Dr. Rui Moreira in Porto, where I don’t think it will solve anything. On the contrary, it will bring more problems to those who already have them, who come from a pandemic [covid 19], who have sacrificed their lives, are still paying loans, many are starting their lives over again and it will be very difficult.”

The Councillor for Economic Activities and Inspection, Filipa Correia Pinto, explained that there will be “very strict” inspection with “heavy” sanctions, to “strengthen people’s sense of security and to guarantee the organisation of public spaces”.

The changes to the regulations are justified, according to the Official Gazette, by “their adaptation to the new reality and to the phenomena that have, in the meantime, spread and that carry the risk not only of changing the character of the Movida Zone, but also of disqualifying an ecosystem that, if well regulated and well managed, could be a distinctive mark and a factor in the city’s development”.