These restrictions do not affect cafés, bars, restaurants, or nightclubs, which are still allowed to sell alcohol during operating hours.
To curb alcohol consumption in public areas in night, the city of Porto has imposed restrictions on alcohol sales in shops in specific areas between 21:00 and 08:00. This measure is applicable to supermarkets, convenience stores, wine cellars, and souvenir shops, which lie within the city’s designated containment zone.
The city authorities say that this is the third revision to a law, which was introduced on March 1, 2023. The latest update strengthens sanctions on non-compliant businesses and extends the reach of the containment zone to include more of downtown Porto, an area frequented by tourists and nightlife visitors.
The statement says that these restrictions do not affect cafés, bars, restaurants, or nightclubs, which are still allowed to sell alcohol during operating hours.
“This is our conviction that this, street drinking gathering, phenomenon in several parts of the city is causing harm and having an impact on urban security,” says Filipa Correia Pinto, City Councillor, Economic Activities. She adds that inspections will be very strict and that businesses that violate the ban could face heavy sanctions.
The report also notes that authorities now have the legal power to order the immediate closure of establishments found violating the rule.
“What we noticed is that the successive application of fines did not dissuade economic agents from continuing to violate the rules, because paying the fine was worth it, because the fines were low,” says Rui Moreira, Mayor, Porto.
According to the report, the city aims to respond to resident’s concerns about noise and public order, especially in nightlife districts such as Rua da Galeria de Paris. The containment zone does not include all of Porto, but it covers areas with high levels of street activity during the night.
However, Ricardo Tavares, President of Porto’s Movida Association of Bars and Discotheques, says these restrictions “lacked wisdom” and may not prove effective. Additionally, others say that prohibiting public alcohol consumption directly would be a more efficient approach than limiting sales hours.
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