The third amendment to the regulation in effect since March 1, 2023, published today in the Diário da República, includes an extension of the so-called Containment Zone, which will cover almost the entire downtown area of Porto.
In this zone, the sale of alcoholic beverages after 9:00 PM is only permitted in cafes, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Establishments such as supermarkets, convenience stores, souvenir shops, or wine cellars are excluded.
In the Containment Zone, terraces will have restricted operating hours, but there are some flexible arrangements for terraces in the three Movida areas (Movida Core, Protected Zone, and Containment Zone).
“This is justified by our belief that the ‘botellon’ phenomenon in various parts of the city is harmful and impacting urban security,” explained today to Lusa the councilor for Economic Activities and Inspection.
Filipa Correia Pinto assured that there will be “stringent” enforcement with “severe” penalties to “strengthen people’s sense of security and ensure the organization of public space.”
Another “significant” change, according to the councilor, is the revision of the sanctioning framework applied to violations of the regulation, introducing a mechanism for precautionary closure of establishments.
In “certain circumstances, and duly justified,” regulatory bodies may “immediately close an establishment that is not complying, impacting the safety and comfort of those frequenting the area,” she explained, adding that temporary closure is also envisaged as an ancillary penalty.
“What we noticed is that the successive imposition of fines did not deter economic agents from continuing to violate the rules because paying the fine was compensatory, as they were low fines,” she added.
Additionally, economic agents with records of convictions for violations may lose the right to extended operating hours.
According to the councilor, an awareness campaign about the new rules is planned in the coming days, believing that these changes will satisfy not only residents but also economic agents, “and surely improve the quality of nightlife.”
The regulation was supposed to take effect on the first working day following its publication, namely Monday, June 23, but this date, the eve of the São João holiday, is precisely one of the two exceptions provided (the other being on the night of December 31 to January 1).
The changes to the regulation are justified with the “adapting to the new reality and phenomena that have spread and pose the risk not only of altering the character of the Movida Zone but also of downgrading an ecosystem that, if well-regulated and well-managed, can be a distinctive mark and a development factor for the city.”
They were open for public consultation from April 9 to May 23, and the result was approved in the city council meeting on June 2.
