Intense Temperament
Düsseldorf Implements Alcohol and Stay Ban in Old Town and Rhine Promenade
Starting June 11, a new measure will be enforced in Düsseldorf's old town (Altstadt) and the Rhine promenade. The city's crisis team, in collaboration with the police and representatives of DEHOGA, has implemented a stay and alcohol ban during certain evening hours. This decision aims to reduce disturbances caused by excessive alcohol consumption and overcrowding, particularly in popular nightlife and tourist areas.
The ban, which applies from 8 pm to 5 am on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the day before public holidays, and from 8 pm to 1 am on other weekdays, is a response to concerns about public order and safety. The concern stems from an alcohol-fueled, heated atmosphere beyond terraces of outdoor gastronomy, where distance and mask rules are consistently violated.
The ban does not apply to gastronomy terraces that work with strong hygiene concepts. However, the mask requirement for the old town and the Rhine remains in effect. The ban applies to public streets and paths within the area, with exceptions made for queues in front of retail stores, catering establishments, and other open facilities.
The political opposition, led by Düsseldorf's SPD chairman Oliver Schreiber, has criticized the city's approach to the alcohol ban. Meanwhile, city officials, including Christian Zaum, the crisis team leader, and Mayor Keller, support the ban as a necessary step to curb recurring chaos, littering, noise complaints, and violence linked to openly drinking in public during peak times.
The ban reflects increasing concerns about managing public spaces popular for drinking and socializing in Düsseldorf, balancing tourism appeal with resident wellbeing. The enforcement includes fines and police patrols aimed at ensuring compliance during the specified hours in these key city locations.
Opposition voices call for a broader, more comprehensive approach beyond alcohol prohibitions, focusing on prevention programs and community engagement to reduce nuisances sustainably. The mayor and police president Norbert Wesseler agree that the special situation of the state capital requires more police, especially on weekends and public holidays in the city center.
Access control to the old town, similar to controls during the glass ban, was considered impractical and legally impossible. The first sunny weekend at the end of February was a tense situation in the old town and on the Rhine, according to Schreiber. There are currently eleven cases of the so-called more infectious Indian virus variant in the area, adding to the concerns about public health.
The Kö, a major road connecting the city center to the Rhine promenade, is closed for passenger cars on weekends and before public holidays due to the ban. Dr. Klaus Göbels, the health department head, notes that there is a risk of infection in a static, densely packed crowd, especially in these circumstances.
The CDU faction leader, Rolf Tups, and his deputy, Andreas Hartnigk, call for a stronger police presence, especially on weekends and public holidays in the city center. Keller and Wesseler state that the city, police, and DEHOGA are united in their desire to ensure a corona-compliant and relaxed stay in the old town's open areas of outdoor gastronomy.
Schreiber, however, states that the ban is "avoidable and conceptless" and blames Dr. Keller for allowing a situation to escalate that should not have occurred. This debate highlights the ongoing challenges faced by cities in managing public spaces during times of increased social activity, especially in the context of the ongoing pandemic.
Science can provide insights into the impact of alcohol consumption on public order and safety, as recurring chaos, littering, noise complaints, and violence are often linked to openly drinking in public during peak times. This information could aid in the development of health-and-wellness strategies aimed at reducing nuisances sustainably, following Düsseldorf's approach to alcohol bans.
In order to mitigate the risks of infection in densely packed crowds, especially during the pandemic, science may propose solutions to ensure a corona-compliant and relaxed stay in public spaces, such as the old town and Rhine promenade, while maintainings their appeal for tourism and residents.
