Alcohol ban at the old harbor: peace for Rathenow or just illusion?

Alcohol ban at the old harbor: peace for Rathenow or just illusion?

Alte Hafen, 14712 Rathenow, Deutschland - In Rathenow, a new alcohol ban caused excitement. Since July 15, 2023, the popular area at the Old Hafen is a ban on enjoying alcohol that aims to protect public order. The ban was introduced due to numerous complaints from residents and tourists who had complained about noise, garbage and vandalism. According to Mayor Jörg Zietemann, it is hoped that the ban will bring peace to the area. The security service, which was engaged in April, checks together with the regulatory office that the ban will be observed and ensures that no alcoholics are consumed. This has already been officially decided by the city councils after the problems with sprouting spontaneous celebrations in previous years [rbb24] (https://www.rbbb24.de/panorama/bagrag/2025/07/brandenburg-havelland-rathenow-sicherkeit-- alionsb ban).

The general decree, which is valid by December 31, 2025, is to be evaluated after a test run. Information signs that indicate the ban on alcohol will be set up this week. Another example of the importance of public order shows a current case from Brädikow, in which a man was convicted of exhibitionist acts. A 13-year-old girl had seen him naked in the forest and turned on the police. The convicted accused plans to appeal against the judgment [MAZ-ONLINE] (https://www.maz-online.de/lokales/havelland/ alcohol botszone-exhibitionist-vor-ger-fuer-elstal-pkgxgfcjkrbzbzbzbjorrwrynzp7Me.html?outPuttype=valid_amp).

legal Situation and scope for action of the municipalities

The alcohol ban in Rathenow is in the context of similar regulations that enable municipalities to ensure public order through legal measures. However, such regulations must be taken into account, taking into account the fundamental right to freedom of action, as the Basic Law stipulates. The principle of proportionality plays a central role in this. In some cities, such as Palma de Mallorca, strict regulations have been introduced to improve public order. However, the case of the city of Forst in Lausitz shows how fragile such regulations can be: there a court had rejected the existing ban on alcohol as disproportionately, since there was no concrete evidence of a risk to public order [Lawyer Ssuchservice] (https://www.anwalt-suchservice.de/rechtstipps/Al alcoholbot_in_der_oeffentheit_was_darf_Meinde_anorden_23303.html).

In order to avoid such legal complications, those responsible in Rathenow hope for a smooth course of the ban and the associated positive effects. The residents can hope for a noticeable improvement in the situation at the old harbor - a long -awaited goal that is finally within reach due to the measures taken.