From today onwards, selling alcohol on the street in Porto is prohibited between 9pm and 8am

The new rules of the Porto Movida regulation come into force today, prohibiting the sale of alcohol for consumption on public roads between 9pm and 8am, throughout the city.

The third amendment to the regulation, which came into force on March 1, 2023, also includes the expansion of the so-called containment zone, which will cover practically the entire downtown area of ​​Porto.

In this area, the sale of alcoholic beverages after 9:00 pm is only permitted in cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Establishments such as supermarkets, convenience stores, souvenir shops and wine shops are excluded.

Still in the containment zone, terraces now have limited opening hours, although there are some instruments for flexibility in opening hours on terraces in the three movida zones (movida core, protected zone and containment zone).

“What justifies this is our conviction that this phenomenon of 'botellon' in various parts of the city is damaging, having an impact on urban security”, the Councillor for Economic Activities and Inspection explained to Lusa on Friday.

Filipa Correia Pinto guaranteed that there will be “very strict” supervision with “heavy” sanctions, to “strengthen people’s sense of security and to guarantee the organization of public spaces”.

Another “significant” change is, according to the mayor, the review of the sanctioning framework that applies to violations of the rules of the regulation, with the introduction of a mechanism for the precautionary closure of the establishment.

In “certain circumstances, and duly justified”, the supervisory bodies may “immediately close an establishment that is not complying, with an impact on the safety and comfort of those who frequent the place”, he explained, adding that temporary closure is also foreseen as an additional sanction.

Furthermore, economic agents who have a record of convictions for infractions will no longer be able to access the extended working hours.

Speaking to Lusa on Monday, the president of the Porto Movida Bars and Nightclubs Association admitted that the new rules of the regulation, with heavier sanctions, may help combat the 'botellon' phenomenon, but do not resolve it.

“All measures are welcome, but they don’t solve the problem. The issue of ‘botellon’ is an important issue, because it is often made with drinks that people bring from home or buy in supermarkets during the day and, therefore, it is not the establishments that sell the drinks so that people can make these ‘botellons’ on the street”.

The president of the Portuguese Association of Bars and Nightclubs, Ricardo Tavares, said, in turn, that he had doubts that the new rules in Porto's nightlife would solve the problem of the 'botellon' phenomenon.

“Operationally, I don’t think this will bring any improvements to the city, nor to those who live there, it will only bring more problems for business owners who already have many”, defended Ricardo Tavares.

The new rules of the Porto Movida regulation come into force today, prohibiting the sale of alcohol for consumption on public roads between 9pm and 8am, throughout the city.

The third amendment to the regulation, which came into force on March 1, 2023, also includes the expansion of the so-called containment zone, which will cover practically the entire downtown area of ​​Porto.

In this area, the sale of alcoholic beverages after 9:00 pm is only permitted in cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Establishments such as supermarkets, convenience stores, souvenir shops and wine shops are excluded.

Still in the containment zone, terraces now have limited opening hours, although there are some instruments for flexibility in opening hours on terraces in the three movida zones (movida core, protected zone and containment zone).

“What justifies this is our conviction that this phenomenon of 'botellon' in various parts of the city is damaging, having an impact on urban security”, the Councillor for Economic Activities and Inspection explained to Lusa on Friday.

Filipa Correia Pinto guaranteed that there will be “very strict” supervision with “heavy” sanctions, to “strengthen people’s sense of security and to guarantee the organization of public spaces”.

Another “significant” change is, according to the mayor, the review of the sanctioning framework that applies to violations of the rules of the regulation, with the introduction of a mechanism for the precautionary closure of the establishment.

In “certain circumstances, and duly justified”, the supervisory bodies may “immediately close an establishment that is not complying, with an impact on the safety and comfort of those who frequent the place”, he explained, adding that temporary closure is also foreseen as an additional sanction.

Furthermore, economic agents who have a record of convictions for infractions will no longer be able to access the extended working hours.

Speaking to Lusa on Monday, the president of the Porto Movida Bars and Nightclubs Association admitted that the new rules of the regulation, with heavier sanctions, may help combat the 'botellon' phenomenon, but do not resolve it.

“All measures are welcome, but they don’t solve the problem. The issue of ‘botellon’ is an important issue, because it is often made with drinks that people bring from home or buy in supermarkets during the day and, therefore, it is not the establishments that sell the drinks so that people can make these ‘botellons’ on the street”.

The president of the Portuguese Association of Bars and Nightclubs, Ricardo Tavares, said, in turn, that he had doubts that the new rules in Porto's nightlife would solve the problem of the 'botellon' phenomenon.

“Operationally, I don’t think this will bring any improvements to the city, nor to those who live there, it will only bring more problems for business owners who already have many”, defended Ricardo Tavares.

The new rules of the Porto Movida regulation come into force today, prohibiting the sale of alcohol for consumption on public roads between 9pm and 8am, throughout the city.

The third amendment to the regulation, which came into force on March 1, 2023, also includes the expansion of the so-called containment zone, which will cover practically the entire downtown area of ​​Porto.

In this area, the sale of alcoholic beverages after 9:00 pm is only permitted in cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Establishments such as supermarkets, convenience stores, souvenir shops and wine shops are excluded.

Still in the containment zone, terraces now have limited opening hours, although there are some instruments for flexibility in opening hours on terraces in the three movida zones (movida core, protected zone and containment zone).

“What justifies this is our conviction that this phenomenon of 'botellon' in various parts of the city is damaging, having an impact on urban security”, the Councillor for Economic Activities and Inspection explained to Lusa on Friday.

Filipa Correia Pinto guaranteed that there will be “very strict” supervision with “heavy” sanctions, to “strengthen people’s sense of security and to guarantee the organization of public spaces”.

Another “significant” change is, according to the mayor, the review of the sanctioning framework that applies to violations of the rules of the regulation, with the introduction of a mechanism for the precautionary closure of the establishment.

In “certain circumstances, and duly justified”, the supervisory bodies may “immediately close an establishment that is not complying, with an impact on the safety and comfort of those who frequent the place”, he explained, adding that temporary closure is also foreseen as an additional sanction.

Furthermore, economic agents who have a record of convictions for infractions will no longer be able to access the extended working hours.

Speaking to Lusa on Monday, the president of the Porto Movida Bars and Nightclubs Association admitted that the new rules of the regulation, with heavier sanctions, may help combat the 'botellon' phenomenon, but do not resolve it.

“All measures are welcome, but they don’t solve the problem. The issue of ‘botellon’ is an important issue, because it is often made with drinks that people bring from home or buy in supermarkets during the day and, therefore, it is not the establishments that sell the drinks so that people can make these ‘botellons’ on the street”.

The president of the Portuguese Association of Bars and Nightclubs, Ricardo Tavares, said, in turn, that he had doubts that the new rules in Porto's nightlife would solve the problem of the 'botellon' phenomenon.

“Operationally, I don’t think this will bring any improvements to the city, nor to those who live there, it will only bring more problems for business owners who already have many”, defended Ricardo Tavares.