Jochen Ott, the opposition leader in the Düsseldorf state parliament (SPD), is calling on the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) state government to allow local communities to implement alcohol prohibition zones. This request comes in response to the Deutsche Bahn’s announcement that it plans to introduce alcohol bans in all train stations by October.
Ott told the “Rheinische Post” that it is illogical that the state government continues to withhold this possibility from municipalities in other well-known problem areas. He emphasized that cities and towns are best positioned to identify areas where alcohol-related conflicts regularly occur, whether they are in public squares, parks, or other hotspots. These local authorities, he argued, urgently need the legal ability to mandate temporary and geographically limited alcohol prohibitions in those specific locations.
The SPD politician mentioned that his faction has already proposed measures to this effect, but they were rejected by the CDU and the Greens. Ott stressed that if supporters believe alcohol bans are necessary at train stations, they cannot simultaneously restrict the powers of cities and towns. He urged the state government to drop its obstructionist stance, arguing that more action options for those responsible for local safety are needed, rather than further excuses.
