The municipal police carried out checks and prevention on Sunday on the quays of Bordeaux -

Mickaël Bosredon / 20 Minutes

  • The deputy mayor of Bordeaux in charge of security, deplores that some establishments continue to sell alcohol to take away, especially on the docks, while a decree prohibiting the consumption of alcohol on public roads was taken on Thursday .

  • The manager of one of the establishments concerned, at Simone, ensures for his part that the situation was under control.

  • During this time, the municipal police are increasing the checks, above all in a spirit of prevention, the goal of the town hall being not to have to close the quays.

The decree prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in public spaces in the center of Bordeaux and on the quays, has it been respected this weekend? 

20Minutes

followed on Sunday a team of the municipal police on the quays, where many Bordelais had still come to relax.

Several picnics with friends were well organized, but all alcohol-free, we could see.

Even if in reality, no one is fooled, and the alcohol is sometimes hidden discreetly in soda bottles… But the checks took place in a peaceful atmosphere.

Patrol of the municipal police, Sunday on the quays of Bordeaux - Mickaël Bosredon / 20Minutes

"We had observed the previous weekend of abuses in certain places, in particular Place Gambetta and on the quays, due to too large gatherings, and the most problematic cases were linked to alcohol consumption without moderation", recalls the deputy mayor of Bordeaux in charge of public tranquility and security, Amine Smihi, at 20

minutes

.

Certain bars which had installed refreshments with beer dispensers in front of their establishment were thus particularly in the viewfinder of the town hall.

“This is why we followed the prefecture in its decision to ban alcohol consumption in public places, knowing that we were not in a position to enact a take-out ban.

"

"Extremely important" gatherings on Saturday in front of a bar on the quays

And the problem is that a legal vagueness is maintained, between this ban on the consumption of alcohol, and the authorization of take-out.

On Saturday, refreshments offering take-away alcohol were still present, especially at Quai Louis XVIII, near Place des Quinconces.

“I had to call in the municipal police on Saturday around 5:30 pm at Simone's, a bar located on the quays,” explains Amine Smihi.

She noted the presence of many people in front of the establishment, with alcohol consumption in the public space.

The person in charge will be summoned by our services in the coming days.

He respects the terms of the take-away sale, but the crowds he provokes are extremely important, on the influence of his terrace which must be closed.

"

Our file on the coronavirus

Contacted by

20Minutes

, the manager of Simone, Jérémy Banier, does not give the same version of the facts.

“Yes, I organized a refreshment bar, but nothing extraordinary happened,” he assures us.

I had just turned on the outdoor heaters because people were queuing to enter the establishment, and at the end of the afternoon there were, at one point, a few people.

We could no longer really distinguish whether people were staying there to consume.

But it lasted a very short time.

The police intervened, I explained that anyway I was going to close because it was almost 6 pm, and the agents just reminded me not to incite gatherings in front of the facade.

We left it there.

"

"That they forbid us to take away sales, it will be clearer"

But for the security assistant, it is about "aggressive business practices" and "a lack of solidarity and good citizenship".

“These traders who want to make money at all costs without considering our warning messages, are damaging the image of a whole profession which is in its great majority respectful, and compromise all our efforts.

We want to remind these establishment managers to reason, to make them understand that by their behavior they risk perpetuating this crisis.

It is a call to responsibility, otherwise we will take measures ”warns the elected official.

The manager of the bar is surprised by this situation.

“I don't understand: I have an email confirming that my activity is authorized.

That they forbid us to take away sales will be clearer.

"He also underlines that on Saturday," there was at the same time, right in the center of Bordeaux, a demonstration of people, most of them without masks, with full music!

“About a thousand people actually marched in Bordeaux, at the initiative of the Maskarade collective, in defense of players in the nightlife scene, in particular discotheques.

The quays of Bordeaux, this Sunday - Mickaël Bosredon / 20Minutes

"Our obsession is not to worsen the restrictive measures which are extremely damaging for everyone and which exhaust the population" insists Amine Smihi.

And in particular not to close the quays, as decided by the municipality of Toulouse.

"The mayor of Bordeaux wishes at all costs to prevent this from reaching this point, because it is essential to preserve the rare spaces of freedom still offered to Bordeaux residents, such as parks, gardens and quays" insists the deputy.

"We want the return of the terraces"

Education and prevention, rather than repression, however, remain the watchwords given to the police.

Head of the municipal police department, Yoann, assures us that “people understand the measures, and overall, Bordeaux residents respect the rules imposed on them, even if it is complicated.

We are not there to distribute fines all the time, but to do prevention.

"

Several groups gathered this Sunday on the quays of Bordeaux - Mickaël Bosredon / 20Minutes

The young people present on the quays on Sunday hear the message.

Louis, 23, in the middle of a group of people gathered to celebrate the birthday of a friend, assures us that “we understand this decree, because it is better to ban alcohol than to close the docks, it is is on.

Mathis, 22, sitting a little further away with friends, is more fatalistic.

“There are so many restrictions, just one more…” But the group of friends warns “that with the return of good weather, it will be very difficult to maintain these measures for a long time.

We want the terraces back, otherwise people will go crazy!

"

"With the return of the sunny days it can start to be difficult to manage"

The officers on patrol remain firm in the application of barrier gestures.

Ask those who do not have it to wear the mask.

But also understand this weariness.

"We all hope that the situation will not last too long, assures the police officer Yoann, because with the return of good weather it can start to be difficult to manage.

The reopening of bars and restaurants will also be one to watch, because everyone will want to enjoy life again.

"

The decree prohibiting the consumption of alcohol is in effect until March 18.

Amine Smihi also recalls that Pierre Hurmic asked to push back the curfew in Bordeaux to 8 p.m., instead of 6 p.m.

Without success for the moment.

Bordeaux

Coronavirus in Bordeaux: "There is a before and an after confinement" for the Drive Fermier, which attracts new consumers

Bordeaux

Coronavirus in Bordeaux: Alcohol consumption prohibited in the city center to limit crowds

  • Covid 19

  • Police

  • Aquitaine

  • Coronavirus

  • Bordeaux