Authorities in Milan, Italy, have put forward plans to ban the sale of food and drink after midnight in twelve of the city’s liveliest districts.
In a move designed to please residents of some busy late-night neighbourhoods, but bound to upset business owners, Marco Granelli, the Deputy Mayor for Security, recently put forward a starting paper that could see all sales of takeaway food, including pizza, ice cream and drinks, banned after 12:30 am during the week and after 1:30 am on weekends and public holidays.
Excessive noise
Last month, mayor Giuseppe Sala stated that “a sizeable segment of the population is complaining about excessive noise.”
“In my role I have to listen to all citizens, including those who have to work and those who want to do their business,” added Sala.
The aim of the measures then, which would affect the central districts of Brera and Ticinese, the buzzing Arco della Pace and Navigli, as well as Corso Como, Darsena, Lazzaretto and others, is “to seek a balance between sociability and entertainment and the peace and health of residents,” Granelli said.
No more gelato after midnight?
If the proposed law passes, it could come into force from as early as next month and last until November, in other words throughout the high season – something that certain late night food vendors and residents are not happy about.
Going out for a late-night gelato on a sultry evening is a sacred ritual in Milan, a city famous for its iced confectionary. The idea that the activity could be outlawed in the heart of the city’s most popular districts is causing uproar.
Don’t close earlier, open later
Complaining that the ban goes “against common sense,” Marco Barbieri, secretary general for the Milan branch of the Italian retailers’ association, Confcommercio, told CNN, “If an Italian family goes out for a pizza and wants to go for a walk after and have a gelato, they will be fined under this ordinance.”
Barbieri argues that instead of creating new rules to shut the city down at night, authorities should be opening its public spaces later into the evening, to ensure crowds can spread out into non residential spaces such as parks.
In the heat of summer, Barbieri adds, many residents don’t even think about going out to eat until after 10:00 pm, so midnight is far too early to close ice cream vendors. “We hope they remove gelato, water and pizza from the list,” he said. “Leave the alcohol ban but make it later in the evening.”
