Plauen expands alcohol ban zone: Is that the right way?

Plauen expands alcohol ban zone: Is that the right way?

In Plauen the debate about expanding the alcohol ban zone is becoming increasingly louder. The city has responded with a clear goal to the increased problem in the city center, where public drinking, bullying and urination have become more and more of a nuisance for residents and passers-by. The city council's decision to enlarge the alcohol ban area is intended to send a clear signal. But the doubts remain, because many citizens are unsure about the exact boundaries of the prohibited zone, and the small, high-mounted information signs don't exactly help clarify things. The inner-city problems only seem to be shifting instead of being solved sustainably, as a survey by the Free Press shows. freipresse.de reported.

The situation in Plauen is not new. There was already a similar regulation in the city center between 2018 and 2021, which led to a decrease in crimes at the time. But the ban was lifted in 2021 after it was discovered that there were too few crimes in this area. But recent outbreaks of violence and incidents have prompted those responsible to take renewed action. The new prohibition zone includes central squares such as Lutherplatz, Theaterplatz and Postplatz as well as adjacent streets such as Unterer Graben and Rathausstraße. mdr.de reports.

Further security measures

But the alcohol ban is not the only measure the city administration is planning. Parallel to the expansion of the prohibited zone, three additional positions will be created in the municipal police. The possibility of video surveillance in the city center is also currently being examined. In addition, depending on funding, a meeting point with social workers will be set up to offer advice and support to those affected and potential offenders.

Alcohol bans in public spaces are not unusual in Germany. Cities such as Freiburg and Göttingen have introduced similar regulations to counteract harassment by people who are heavily intoxicated. In Plauen, the desire to create a safe atmosphere for everyone is now evident, while the legal challenges and exceptions in German law always remain in the background. Wikipedia informs about the legal framework and other cities with similar measures.