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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Popular European city introduces new late night alcohol ban
And where to find the 'wine theme park' in one of Europe's cheapest cities Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR European city has introduced an alcohol ban for both locals and tourists. Porto has stopped the sale of alcohol from supermarkets, convenience stores, wine cellars, and souvenir shops for nearly 12 hours in the evening Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Porto has banned the sale of wine from supermarkets and off licences Credit: Alamy 5 The new rules have come into affect from this week Credit: Alamy The ban is in place between the hours of 9pm and 8am. The rules came into effect on June 25 as part of the new regulations for nightlife in the city. These restrictions are not city-wide, but they do apply to the entirety of Porto's 'Containment Zone.' This zone includes the downtown area, including Rua da Galeria de Paris, a street that's very famous for its nightlife and bars. Terraces will have limited opening hours, although there are some flexible for some in popular nightlife areas. Filipa Correia Pinto, councillor for Economic Activities, explained to that the changes are aimed at combating 'botellons'. She added: 'What justifies this is our conviction that this phenomenon in several parts of the city is causing harm and having an impact on urban security', as reported by Portugal News. The rules have been put in place to stop people congregating in public areas where they socialise while drinking alcohol. Inspections will be stricter and the sanctions heavier, including the closure of establishments that don't comply with the new rules. You can still drink during the later hours hours, but alcohol needs to be bought in cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Porto's Finest: Wine, Culture, and Nightlife 5 Porto has colourful houses and cobbled streets Credit: Alamy 5 The city is coastal and has beautiful beaches too Credit: Alamy Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its beaches, bridges and of course, port wine. If you fancy a drink, most of the port wine cellars are over the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia. The city has rambling old towns full of colourful buildings with cobbled streets and steep hills. The Ribeira district has lots of architecture to admire with colourful houses and the Dom Luís I Bridge. The Douro River is in the heart of the city and flows right around Porto. On the river you can hop on scenic cruises, wine tasting tours, and outdoor adventures. As for beaches, Praia de Matosinhos is a large sandy beach located in the town of Matosinhos, it has strong waves so is a popular spot for surfers. Praia do Senhor da Pedra in Miramar is popular with locals for its calm atmosphere and golden sands. The city's speciality is a francesinha, similar to a croque monsieur, it's filled with ham, sausage and steak, doused in melted cheese and hot tomato sauce. You can get to Porto in just over two hours from the UK. Here's more on Porto with the world's most beautiful bookshop and very famous 80p treats. And where to find the 'wine theme park' in one of Europe's cheapest cities.
Time Out
3 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
One of Europe's most popular city breaks is implementing a booze ban
Walking down the streets of Porto at night on a sunny summer evening, when people are just finishing dinner and deciding where to head next, you'll likely stumble across groups perched on corners with a drink in hand, chatting and playing music. The gatherings are part of Porto's spontaneous charm; a phenomenon known as 'botellon' that's largely associated with Spanish drinking culture but is also widespread in Portugal. However, it turns out residents of Portugal 's second city don't find it so charming, and a new ban will soon come into place to crack down on public drinking at night. From Wednesday, there will be a ban on sales of alcohol from supermarkets, convenience stores, wine cellars and souvenir shops from 9pm to 8pm in Porto's 'Containment Zone'. Only cafes, bars, restaurants and nightclubs will be allowed to sell alcohol within that window. The so-called Containment Zone comprises the entire downtown area of Porto, including popular nightlife areas like Rua da Galeria de Paris. Recommended: The five quiet, beautiful European islands that have avoided overtourism. So, how exactly will the ban be implemented? According to the Portugal News, inspection bodies may 'immediately close an establishment that is not complying,' temporarily as a precaution. Why? Well, 'what we noticed is that the successive application of fines did not dissuade economic agents from continuing to violate the rules, because paying the fine was worth it, because the fines were low,' said the city's mayor. While there are hopes that this will succeed in curbing 'botellon' culture and improve the quality of Porto's nightlife, not everyone is so sure the measure will be effective. Miguel Camões, Porto Nightlife Bars and Discos Association president said: 'The 'botellon' issue is significant because it often involves drinks that people bring from home or purchase from supermarkets during the day, so it's not the venues selling these drinks for street consumption,' according to Portugal Pulse. Instead, Camões says more general legislation that prevents people from consuming alcohol in public areas, whether it's from a shop or from home, would be more effective. Ricardo Tavares, president of the Portuguese Bars and Discos Association, seconded this, saying the measure 'lacks wisdom' and 'operationally [won't] bring any improvement [to the city].' Keep an eye on this page for updates, and maybe plan your gatherings at one of Porto's brilliant bars instead.
