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This week, Tallinn city government intends to approve a bill banning public drinking almost all over town. Boozing in public places of the city is clearly bothering the townsfolk, wrote the newspaper Pealinn (The Capital i.e. Tallinn).
Tallinn plans ban on public drinking
26th August 2014, 10:28
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«If we fail to curb drinking in public places, we will soon see street crime and family violence rising, as the reason behind a large part of violence is alcohol,» explained Tallinn deputy mayor Kalle Klandorf.
«It is not right to lay on other citizens the obligation to be reconciled to disturbing behaviour,» says the bill. Pealinn wrote based on studies that through the years dwellers of Estonia’s capital have considered consumption of alcohol in public places among the most disturbing behaviour patterns when it comes to normal order of life.
According to the mayor Edgar Savisaar excessive consumption of alcohol is a problem in Estonia as it is, so Tallinn will do all in its power to value alcohol-free city space. «If we want to be a Nordic country and to keep our people, we must again make public drinking something to be disapproved of,» said Mr Savisaar. «Tallinn one was the first to ban night-time sale of alcohol, whereafter the government was forced to follow suit.»
Deputy mayor Kalle Klandorf said the scene in the city has worsened since the Government of the Republic decided to allow public drinking. «I have talked to young people who have children, also to grandfathers and grandmothers – they say this is a nightmare, a terrible thing to behold as they walk the streets with their children,» said Mr Klandorf.
«Some years ago I visited Pskov, I stayed at the best hotel next to a park. Early in the morning, mothers and fathers with small children, grandmothers and grandfathers came to the park and started to down vodka. That felt so appalling. And now we have the same situation! In the European Union, deputies get tolerance money. Why do we not get tolerance money for having to tolerate the noise of the drunks in the streets? Why not let everything loose then – proudly?!»
According to the deputy mayor, all out liberal alcohol policy will also raise the risk of crime. «Behind a laser part of violent crime there lies alcohol,» noted Mr Klandorf. «75 percent of family violence is alcohol-related,» he added.