Cities limit tippling

Photo: Toomas Tatar

July saw entry into force of Law and Order Act provision allowing alcohol to be consumed at many a public spot – as long as others aren’t bothered. At that, local government hands were left untied to set aside areas for minors or promotion of health where booze isn’t okay.

Pärnu, for instance, has already declared city centre, beach promenade, and parks as non-alcohol zone. In central Pärnu, drinking alcohol is limited to catering companies. «We do not desire to see people walking down the Rüütli Street, beer in hand, or tippling away on the Rüütli or Martens Squares,» said Mayor Toomas Kivimägi.

In Estonia’s summer capital, alcohol may be consumed in some certain parks where people are in the habit of having picnics. As well as on the beach sand – but not from glass bottles.

Tallinn thinks restrictions

According to Tallinn vice mayor Kalle Klandorf, consumption of alcohol will probably be prohibited on the capital’s beaches. «I don’t think Estonian people are as civil and well-mannered as to know how to drink,» he said.

To that end, Pirita city district government has already filed an application. «We realise that many may mean consumption of alcohol to be a sip of wine while enjoying a sunset, but sadly such aren’t the thoughts of all and we cannot make exceptions,» said Pirita government PR-adviser Andre Hanimägi.

On beaches and at children’s playgrounds, North Tallinn and Haabersti districts also want to ban drinking.

According to Haabersti deputy elder Juhan Hindov, public drinking is a big problem as they have lots of parks.  

«The noise and the yelling are beyond what one can take. Park benches are dragged off, to be used to set up drinking «gardens» around kindergartens,» he said, providing an example.

According to Võhma mayor Anneli Siimussaar, consumption of alcohol has been on the rise in their public places but the local government has not yet had the time to deal with it. She said they would be discussing a ban on tippling on playgrounds and the city square.

Sillamäe development specialist Anton Makarjev admitted that even before the liberal law hit, drinking was popular at certain public places. Mr Makarjev said that in a small town, police is simply unable to pay enough attention to this.

Fall decides

Both Mr Makarjev and the Loksa mayor Värner Lootsmann think local governments may indeed impose limits, but they’ll still be struggling to punish the offenders as there are neither people nor funds to keep the situation in check.

Several local governments, however, are in the wait-and-see mode.

«The law being fresh, it is difficult to assess if anything has changed. Personally, I hope no law makes people drink more,» said Keila deputy mayor Timo Suslov.

Should public drinking become a problem, special measures will be discussed in Võru. Once the summer is over, talks are in pipeline in Viljandi and Kuressaare. In Jõgeva, the issue was on the agenda at the last city council meeting; even so, as summers are quiet in Jõgeva, they are keeping an eye on how the picture is changing.

At the moment, Haapsalu, Valga and Saue don’t see the change as problematic.

Of all places, Tartu seems to be the most free-wheeling. City secretary Jüri Mölder said it is already laid down in law and order law that while drinking alcohol, others aren’t to be disturbed. As also pointed out by Mr Mölder, the courts have not considered it substantiated for law and order to intervene in situations where consumption of alcohol does not disturb others and poses no danger.