To this end, the municipality intends to prohibit sales from 11 pm on Sundays through Thursdays to combat noise and safeguard the right to rest.

Supported by the Councillor for the Economy, Diogo Moura (CDS-PP), the proposal to “establish a specific schedule for the sale of beverages for consumption outside establishments, for the entire city” will be discussed on 14 January, in a private meeting of the municipal executive, led by PSD/CDS-PP/IL.

The proposal, which Lusa had access to, determines that the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption outside establishments by commercial establishments will take place, “from Sunday to Thursday, exclusively between 8 am and 11 pm, and on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of public holidays, between 8 am and midnight, for the entire city”. Outside of these periods, the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption inside commercial establishments and/or on their terraces is permitted, “provided they are duly licensed for this purpose and in strict compliance with the opening hours of the respective establishment,” according to the document.

Applying fines

Violation of these rules constitutes an offence punishable by a fine of €150 to €1,000 for individuals and €350 to €3,000 for legal entities, according to the proposal, with the Lisbon Municipal Police and security forces responsible for enforcement.

The proposal is part of the revision of the Regulation on Opening Hours of Establishments Selling to the Public and Providing Services in the Municipality of Lisbon, approved in 2016, under the presidency of Fernando Medina (PS), which divided the city into two zones, one with time limits and the other without, the latter on the riverfront.

The regulation included specific operating rules stating that “the city council may establish a specific schedule for the sale of food or beverages for consumption outside establishments, for the entire city or for specific areas of the city,” which is now being proposed by the PSD/CDS-PP/IL leadership.

Right to rest

In a written statement sent to Lusa, the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas (PSD), states that the proposal aims to guarantee the right of Lisbon residents to rest throughout the city, particularly in residential areas with higher concentrations of nightlife.

“We cannot tolerate that excessive noise, largely explained by the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces and the crowding of people outside food and beverage establishments, compromises the health, rest, and quality of life of those who live in Lisbon,” he emphasises.

Therefore, Carlos Moedas argues that limiting the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption outside establishments is “a balanced solution” that reconciles economic and tourism development with the right to rest and the quality of life of all who reside in the city.

Bringing consequences

In the proposal’s rationale, Councillor Diogo Moura highlights the “negative impact” of the concentration of restaurants, bars, and nightlife establishments in residential areas, particularly regarding excessive noise at night, with “several complaints” from residents, parish councils, and neighbourhood associations.

The CDS-PP mayor argues that “the protection of public health, rest, and the quality of life of people must prevail over the economic exploitation of commercial establishments,” adding that restricting the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption outside the home is a measure of a “precautionary and preventive nature.”

Thus, if approved, the measure should be valid “for the shortest period” and remain in effect until the changes to the Timetable Regulations come into force, a process that began in the previous 2021-2025 term, and the public consultation was closed in April 2024.

In the proposal, Diogo Moura indicates that other Portuguese cities, such as Albufeira and Porto, and European cities, such as Barcelona, ​​Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague, have already implemented similar regulatory measures.

Currently, the municipal executive, which is composed of 17 members, includes eight elected members from the PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition, the only ones with assigned portfolios, and nine opposition councillors, namely four from the PS, two from Chega, one from Livre, one from BE and one from the PCP.