The Council’s decision not to issue licenses to two companies to engage in the retail sale of alcoholic beverages with a volume concentration of ethyl alcohol not exceeding 15 percent during the resort, recreation and tourism seasons was made after assessing the situation in outdoor cafes-bars in Salininkai, at the address Vaikų st. 1, and in New Vilnius, at Genių st. 19.
“The cases recorded in the neighborhood of both cafes-bars clearly illustrate that the unsafe environment is not only inside the establishments. Not only noise, but also manifestations of violence, theft and other inappropriate behavior are identified in cafes-bars and their entrances, and the places become centers of attraction not only for people living in these districts. The decision not to issue licenses is not common in the municipality, but such decisions are necessary in particularly difficult situations,” says Vilnius City Vice Mayor Simona Bieliūnė.
It will also be completely prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages in these places.
The right to determine places and/or territories where, in order to ensure public order and public safety, municipal councils are granted by the Alcohol Control Law of the Republic of Lithuania. This is the first time that the Vilnius city municipality used such a right belonging to it.
window.fbAsyncInit = function() {
FB.init({
appId: ‘117218911630016’,
version: ‘v2.10’,
status: true,
cookie: false,
xfbml: true
});
};
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {
return;
}
js = d.createElement(s);
js.id = id;
js.src = “https://connect.facebook.net/lt_LT/sdk.js”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
#Centers #attraction #noise #violence #theft #sale #alcoholic #beverages #prohibited #places #Vilnius #Business
**Interview with Tomas Kudra, Local Council Member**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Tomas. We’d like to discuss the recent Council decision regarding the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in Salininkai. Can you provide some context on why the licenses were denied for these two companies?
**Tomas Kudra:** Absolutely, and thank you for having me. The Council’s decision was primarily based on our responsibility to maintain public safety and social order during the high season for tourism and recreation. We assessed the situation in the outdoor cafes and bars in the area, particularly around the Vaikų St. 1 location, and we found that unrestricted sales could contribute to potential disturbances and altercations that would negatively impact both residents and tourists.
**Editor:** That sounds like a very thorough assessment. What specific issues were observed in outdoor cafes that led to this decision?
**Tomas Kudra:** We noticed an increase in alcohol-related incidents in previous seasons, including noise complaints and public disturbances. Our main goal is to create a family-friendly atmosphere that encourages responsible enjoyment of our local amenities. By denying these licenses, we hope to mitigate those issues and promote a more positive environment.
**Editor:** Were there any alternative measures discussed for these companies to possibly resume operations in the future?
**Tomas Kudra:** Yes, we are open to dialogue with these companies. We discussed possible alternatives, such as implementing stricter hours for alcohol sales or possibly limiting the volume of alcohol sold. We believe that with the right adjustments, these businesses can operate while still ensuring the community’s well-being.
**Editor:** That’s encouraging to hear. How has the community responded to the Council’s decision so far?
**Tomas Kudra:** The community has largely supported the decision. Many residents feel more secure knowing that steps are being taken to prevent potential issues, especially during peak tourist seasons. However, we also recognize that some business owners are concerned about the impact on their livelihoods, which is why we are committed to finding a balanced approach.
**Editor:** Thank you, Tomas, for your insights on this matter. It’s refreshing to see a focus on both community welfare and business interests.
**Tomas Kudra:** Thank you for having me. It’s always important to have these conversations and work together for the betterment of our community.
