Alcohol ban in Görlitz: Marienplatz remains empty and shy!

Alcohol ban in Görlitz: Marienplatz remains empty and shy!

In Görlitz on Wednesday afternoon there was a noticeable calm: on Marienplatz, where there was often a lot of hustle and bustle before, a lonely man is now sitting on a bench and sipping from a bottle that looks like a cola drink from a distance, but probably contains alcohol. On the same day, a newly decided alcohol ban came into force, affecting both Marienplatz and the “An der Frauenkirche” area. This was determined by the Görlitz city council, and the ban is intended to prohibit the consumption and carrying of alcoholic beverages from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. First impressions show that the benches at Marienplatz are deserted and there are no usual drinkers to be found.

Loud Sächsische.de The decision for this ban was made on June 26th. Strangely enough, the necessary signs that were supposed to point out the ban are still missing, both at Marienplatz and “An der Frauenkirche”. Although the town hall spokeswoman boldly promises that the signage will be installed “promptly,” there has so far been no specific time frame for implementation. The city has announced that in the event of violations, the ban will be pointed out before penalties are imposed, and inspections by the public order office and the police will also be announced. Mayor Octavian Ursu has assured that violations will be punished after the signs are posted.

Legal situation and previous attempts

But the ban in Görlitz is not without controversy. Almost ten years ago, the city tried to introduce similar alcohol ban zones, but these were overturned by the Bautzen Higher Administrative Court due to a lack of evidence of alcohol-related crimes. A judgment that shows how delicate the legal situation is in such questions. As well as beck.de emphasizes, such a ban cannot simply be imposed across the board. It must be proven that the consumption of alcohol actually endangers public order.

In Görlitz, the ban also applies to other important squares such as Elisabethplatz, Wilhelmplatz, Postplatz and Demianiplatz. The court ruled that the area covered by the regulation was too large and a maximum of three squares and two streets were permitted in accordance with Section 9a SächsPolG. It remains to be seen whether the city can find a legally compliant solution that meets the needs of citizens without restricting their basic rights.

Public policy and communities

The topic of alcohol bans is not only exciting in Görlitz. Municipalities throughout Germany have the opportunity to make regulations to ensure public order. However, they must take into account the fundamental right to freedom of action of citizens. A logically conceived regulation that works is difficult to find, as is the case anwalt-suchservice.de explained. Examples from cities like Palma de Mallorca or Forst show how quickly such bans can run into legal difficulties and how important it is to prove disruptions to public order in these proceedings.

It remains to be seen how the new ban will affect the behavior of Görlitz residents. The first signs that it is having an impact are visible, but the legal uncertainty could soon lead to discussions again. What is certain is that there is a lot to observe in the city on the Neisse.