This means that drinks that contain more than ten percent alcohol by volume will in future be banned in public areas and at sales stands on the Hahnenkamm weekend from Friday to Sunday. The reason given was a massive increase in police operations, reported the “Tiroler Tageszeitung”.
Excluded from the regulation are locals, insured FPÖ security city councilor and state parliament member Alexander Gamper. The regulation covers the entire city center as well as the area above the Hahnenkammbahn to Kitzbühel train station. Hard liquor was already banned in the city center event area; this was handled by the organizers themselves. “We want to maintain this positive trend and set an example,” said Mayor Klaus Winkler (ÖVP), explaining the expansion of the regulation.
The aim of the ban is to “also reach those people who have liquor in their backpack,” said Gamper. “I know that this is a serious change and that we cannot change everything straight away,” admitted the FPÖ politician. But while rescue operations at the Hahnenkamm races have declined in recent years, police operations have increased. Physical injuries are also an issue.
Last year one person was even seriously injured. “We have had a lot of work this year and one of the main problems is certainly alcohol,” said Markus Eder, commander of the federal police in Kitzbühel. Anyone who does not comply with the ban will face fines of up to 2,000 euros, it said. The 84th edition of the sporting event will take place in the week from January 15th to 21st.
