The mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, announced on Monday the introduction of a new measure to counter alcohol consumption in central Brussels.
The measure, set to come into effect sometime in January 2020, will prohibit the consumption of alcohol between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM, in a 500-meter pilot zone around the Brussels Stock Exchange.
Checks will be carried out by the police. Anybody caught consuming alcohol on the streets during the hours of the ban are subject to an administrative fine of up to €350, reports Bruzz.
"If people, and certainly women, do not feel comfortable in the centre, then we must do something about it," said Close, reports De Standaard.
"We do not prohibit the sale or consumption of alcohol - drinking something at home, in a cafe or even on a terrace - but drinking on public roads is a problem," added the mayor.
The alcohol ban is a pilot project.
Evie McCullough
The Brussels Times
