The Lisbon City Council (CML) approved on 14 January the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption outside the city, from 11 pm on Sundays to Thursdays, to combat noise and safeguard the right to rest.

The measure applies to establishments selling to the public and providing services in the municipality of Lisbon, such as restaurants, cafes, tea rooms, pastry shops, bars, nightclubs, fado houses, concert halls, theatres, cinemas, casinos, hotels, gas stations and convenience stores.

In statements to the Lusa news agency today, Ana Jacinto said that the association is concerned about these “general and prohibitive measures.

“What is at stake is, in fact, restricting and penalising economic operators in the sale of drinks for takeaway at certain times. We are concerned about these measures because reality is not the same, and often the responsibility does not even involve the establishment. If the establishment doesn’t sell drinks, the consumer will probably look to buy drinks elsewhere or even earlier and continue drinking wherever and however they want,” she emphasised.

Ana Jacinto said she understands the need for tranquillity outside and the fact that some phenomena need to be controlled.

“We understand the need for balances, which must be made, but it is usually always the private sector that has to be penalised with measures that end up not resulting in their effect, in the objectives they have,” she said.

The Secretary-General of AHRESP also said she is concerned about entrepreneurs’ investments, which are currently facing very serious problems due to an unfavourable situation.

“The costs are very high, and this measure leads to sales restrictions that worry us, knowing that in some places it may have an effect, but we are convinced that the problem of tranquillity in certain areas will not be solved with this restrictive measure. "Companies and business owners in the sector are being penalised," she emphasised.

Ana Jacinto also said she doesn’t understand how this measure is transversal to the entire city of Lisbon.

"We understand these issues of guaranteeing tranquillity, order, and security. Perfect, we are partners, it's also in our interest, but there is another shared interest. Measures must always be proportional and balanced," she considered.

In Ana Jacinto’s opinion, there are parts of the city where it can help address the problem, but other parts do not have this issue; therefore, the generalised measure is “excessive.”

"There should have been more depth in evaluating the measure, even with concrete facts, which do not exist. Measures must be taken based on facts, numbers, reality, and information. All decisions must be made based on information.” “We don’t know what concrete information led to these measures across the board,” he concluded.

The Lusa news agency also contacted the director-general of the Lisbon Tourism Association, António Vale, who, in a written response, considered it a smart urban policy decision.

"The limitation of hours for selling drinks on the street should not be seen as a moralistic, anti-economic or anti-tourism measure. Rather, it is a smart urban policy decision, aligned with what major European cities have already understood: tourism that respects the city is also the tourism that brings it the most value," he considered.

António Vale also stressed that "less alcohol on the street does not mean less economy or less tourism. It means better tourism, more competitiveness and more authenticity."