The town hall of Montpellier has published a decree prohibiting the sale of alcohol between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. by night grocery stores during the holidays, and forcing them to close on weekends, from Thursday evening to Monday morning, during these periods.
The objective, for the city, is to maintain the tranquility of local residents, and to fight against massive alcoholism, a scourge for consumer health and safety.
Grocers are dismayed by such a measure.
“We are night grocery stores, so if we are forced to close at night… We no longer exist,” says Mounir Letaief, who chairs an association of night grocery stores in Montpellier.
Buying a little cheap rosé, at the local grocery store, in the middle of the night, to continue the party in an apartment?
This is now impossible, in Montpellier (Hérault), during the Easter holidays (until May 8), summer (June 1 to September 30) and All Saints Day (October 23 to November 8).
The town hall has published an order prohibiting the sale of all alcoholic beverages to merchants open at night, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., during these periods.
Grocery stores must even close their doors altogether, from Thursday at 10 p.m. to Monday at 6 a.m.
In June 2021, a similar decree was issued by the municipality.
It was not, however, limited to holiday periods.
Attacked by traders, it had been challenged by the administrative court, the judge considering that the city had gone too far, by applying this regulation all year round.
“We took the decision into account, by taking a new decree, limited to holiday periods, explains Sébastien Cote (PS), the elected official for public tranquility.
It is therefore a less harsh decree than last year”, because, “the rest of the year, night grocery stores can operate, 7 days a week.
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Public tranquility and massive alcoholism
The reasons for such regulation, however, have not changed.
First, the maintenance of public tranquility, because "night grocery stores generate problems for residents of noise pollution, gatherings, problems related to motorists who park in double or even triple line on the roadway “, notes the chosen one.
But this measure is also a way of fighting against massive alcoholism, a scourge that threatens the health of consumers and poses safety problems.
Magali Balmefrezol, president of the local residents' collective Right to sleep, is relieved to see that the town hall is continuing its fight against nuisances, through this new decree.
“Members are unanimous,” notes this Montpellier resident: night grocery stores generate significant disturbances for the neighborhood.
“The noise mainly, people who are in front, very alcoholic, she says.
Some talk about trafficking.
People who live above or next to a night grocery store, it's unlivable.
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“If we are forced to close at night, we no longer exist”
Grocers, on the other hand, are completely devastated by these regulations.
“We are night grocery stores, so if we are forced to close at night… We no longer exist,” says Mounir Letaief, who chairs an association of night grocery stores in Montpellier.
“During the day, there's no point in opening, with all the small supermarkets that have opened.
Our turnover has fallen by 70%.
I don't think we'll survive.
Several grocery stores have disappeared since last year's decree.
In the city center, or on the avenue de Toulouse.
And then there are super-fast delivery services, which hurt grocers a lot.
“They sell the products cheaper than we buy them.
And they deliver them to the house!
“laments Mounir Letaief.
This announced disappearance of night groceries is “a pity, confides the trader.
Because we make the city live.
“As for the argument of public tranquility, mentioned by the city, Mounir Letaief ensures that there” is never anyone in front of the grocery stores “.
The nocturnal uproar, he continues, is in front of bars and restaurants.
“We need to set the rules”
“I invite you to question this economic model which is essentially based on the sale of alcohol, notes Sébastien Cote.
And I'm not even talking about the many administrative closures, which keep falling on night grocery stores, because they sell single cigarettes, shisha tobacco... I don't put everyone in the same bag.
“But, continues the elected official, “we must put back the rules”.
Forcing night grocery stores to close or no longer deliver alcohol is nothing new.
In France, many municipalities or prefectures have taken similar decisions in recent years, in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), Dijon (Côte-d'Or), Roubaix (Nord ) or in Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales).
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Montpellier
Alcohol
Tradespeople
Occitania
Languedoc Roussillon