It was pleasantly busy on the Groenplaats on Tuesday afternoon. — © nd
It could be expensive beers at the Groenplaats. If you drink alcohol on the square and are caught, you risk a GAS fine of up to 500 euros from Monday. In this way, the city council wants to put a stop to the nuisance caused by alcohol and drug addicts.
The Antwerp city council approved the new alcohol ban on Monday evening, which was introduced after a sharp increase in nuisance over the past year. “The ban came into effect immediately yesterday,” says Johan Vermant, spokesperson for Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA). “In practice, however, awareness will first take place, as with previous extensions of the ban. Moreover, the signs will only be put up in the coming days.”
Anyone who does not comply with the new rules risks a GAS fine of up to 500 euros. “A violation of the alcohol ban falls under the GAS regulations,” says Kim Bastiaens, spokesperson for the Antwerp Police Zone. “When the police and GAS officials discover a violation, an official report is drawn up. A GAS official will then assess the report and, if necessary, make a mediation or fine proposal.”
Controls
For the time being, the Antwerp police will not carry out any additional checks. “The Groenplaats is a location where we already regularly patrol,” Bastiaens continues. “But it will take some time before everyone is aware of the new regulations. So we will take that into account for the time being.”
In addition to the alcohol ban, the city, together with the Kamiano homeless center, will focus on offering appropriate guidance to people who cause a nuisance. “Our project will start this summer,” says Kamiano spokesperson Jan De Volder. “An agreement must first be concluded with the city. We expect that the problem may move to nearby squares. But we will do our best to prevent that.”
Addicts previously claimed in this newspaper that they would move to the quays if the alcohol ban was extended. But it was pretty quiet there on Tuesday afternoon. On the other hand, the Groenplaats was pleasantly busy, with some sunbathers enjoying the beautiful weather, sometimes with a beer in hand.
READ ALSO. “No alcohol on the Groenplaats? Then we go to the quays”: homeless people testify about the announced drinking ban
The zone where the alcohol ban came into effect from Monday. — © rr
Tags: Drinking alcohol Groenplaats risk GAS fine euros Antwerp
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