Alcohol ban on the old harbor: Rathenow wants to create more order!

Alcohol ban on the old harbor: Rathenow wants to create more order!

Alten Hafen, 14712 Rathenow, Deutschland - A fresh wind has been blowing at the old harbor in Rathenow since July 15, 2025, because a strict ban on alcohol is now in place here. At the beginning of the month, the city councils approved a corresponding general order in order to master the continuing unrest in this popular leisure zone. Mayor Jörg Zietemann was optimistic that this ban would contribute to bringing calm and order into the area again, especially during the warm days when there were often spontaneous celebrations in the past. This was also reported by the [Tagesschau] (https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/brandenburg/rbb-havelland-rathenow-verhaengt- alcohol verbot-am-alten-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen-hafen

The new regulations concern the public part of the port and are in force until the end of the year. Last but not least, the reason for the ban is the experience of past years, in which the port mutated into a trouble. The city had already hired a private security service in April, which together with the municipal regulatory office should ensure compliance with the new regulations. This regulatory office is a central administrative office that is responsible for security and order in Rathenow and is therefore also responsible for the enforcement of the alcohol ban, as can be seen at the ortsdienst.de.

public security in focus

The regulatory office is not only a guardian of public order, but also a contact point for many concerns of the citizens. This includes tasks such as the pursuit of administrative offenses, monitoring the dormant traffic and measures for danger defense. The aim is to ensure a safe and clean urban environment, which is also increasingly required in Rathenow. Fine can be due in the event of violations of the new regulations, and this is certainly not a nice topic for the party mood that many citizens want to enjoy at the port.

But where are the legal basis for such measures? According to the [lawyer search service] (https://www.anwalt-suchservice.de/rechtstipps/Al alcoholbot_in_der_oeffentchlichkeit_was_darf_Meinde_anorden_23303.html), municipalities may make regulations in order to protect public order, but must observe the fundamental right to freedom of action. There must be a certain degree of proportionality so that such bans do not be considered disproportionate. However, funds that are taken by fines flow into the municipal fine and should therefore also benefit the general public.

In the context of public law discussions about alcohol consumption in public, the experiences of other communities show that such regulations are quite controversial. The case of Forst in Lusatia, where a similar ban temporarily caused legal disputes, shows that not every measure is automatically approved. The Rathenow city policy therefore faces the challenge of protecting the balance between security and freedom of citizens.

It remains to be seen whether the ban on alcohol can actually lead to the desired calm. However, one thing is clear: the city administration has set a sign here and, together with the regulatory office and the security service