Midnight closing time in Budapest’s popular party district?
Over 100 people attended a public forum to discuss the future of a famous party district in Budapest. Locals had the opportunity to ask Péter Niedermüller, DK mayor. The party district gets many complaints from the locals and they want serious changes immediately.
The public forum
444 writes that ever since the so-called party district was created between Nagykörút and Deák Square in the district, there has been constant tension between residents, business owners and the municipality. The general experience is that it is difficult to make decisions that suit both the locals and the local businesses.
Therefore, the municipality often does nothing. The public forum was prompted by a report on an agreement between the municipality and an association of restaurant and bar owners, in which Niedermüller was also involved. The public forum had some heated discussions about the midnight closing time. In addition, people also argued about who is responsible for cleaning up the street frontage.
Midnight closing time
The question of midnight closing time has come up many times before. There was also a non-representative survey conducted by an angry resident at the event. Many residents present have raised their hands, which means that the midnight closing time would solve everything. However, Niedermüller said the following:
This is a serious and fundamental misbelief. If there were a unified closing time, the problems would not go away. The many anomalies that exist would be resolved before twelve o’clock, not after.
The problem is very complex. It cannot be simply solved by calling the police to make a complaint about the noise. There are not enough policemen available to roam the streets either. In addition, a woman complained that although the municipality has established a set of criteria for allowing pubs to stay open after midnight, nobody checks the pubs that already have a licence.
Serious problems
One of the main questions is who is responsible for cleaning up after the partygoers. Several people suggested punishing the rioters. For some time now, such offences have been punishable with fines up to 400 euros. According to the mayor, cleaning up is the responsibility of both the local businesses and the condominiums.
Some locals have also complained about suspicious businesses opening in the district, which are most likely undercover brothels. Niedermüller suggests that anyone who knows about such illegal brothels should report it immediately. However, we have to add that prostitution is legal in Hungary under certain circumstances.
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D.N.H., here’s a suggestion: Please use the exact names of streets and places (e.g. “Nagykorut” is the colloquial name many may not be familiar with) as well as state the kerulet number. In this case, we’re talking about the 7th (VII) kerulet. As far as the problem itself, you don’t solve it by restricting the liberties of third parties. Why do good, decent establishments have to suffer because of some discourteous people’s behavior? Instead of shutting everything down, target those (bars and restaurants as well as individual patrons) who make the offensive noise. Establishments, aside from keeping noise from things such as unnecessarily loud music down, need to ensure they not serve alcohol to rowdy guests and ask those who are misbehaving to leave. Common sense, folks!
Thanks for the feedback. Note taken!