Franz-Jonas-Platz in Vienna Receives Alcohol Prohibition Zone

The city of Vienna is also setting up an alcohol prohibition zone at Franz-Jonas-Platz in Vienna-Floridsdorf. Such a zone has already existed at Praterstern since 2018. As Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) explained on Wednesday together with State Police President Gerhard Pürstl at a media event, the new prohibition zone is expected to come into effect at the beginning of February. Previously, the district administration had been advocating for a prohibition zone in Floridsdorf for years, but Ludwig had opposed it.

Franz-Jonas-Platz in Vienna Gets Alcohol Prohibition Zone

The decision was made "after thorough examination," Ludwig said at a press conference during a joint media public focus action by the police and the city in Fritz-Imhoff-Park in Vienna-Mariahilf. Franz-Jonas-Platz now meets the criteria to establish such a zone, Ludwig said, referring to the crime statistics there. "We notice that heavily intoxicated people hang out there, which restricts the feeling and quality of stay here," the city chief shared. "The situation in Floridsdorf has simply changed," added a spokesman for the mayor to the APA.

The alcohol ban is expected to start "at the beginning of February" before the start of spring. The city hopes this will have a kind of preventive effect. "Based on the surveys we have conducted in recent months, we wanted to start at a time when these people are not yet so prevalent," said Ludwig. "Because this is of course especially an issue in the warmer season."

Emphasis on the "Subjective Sense of Security of the Viennese"

On Wednesday, Pürstl emphasized the importance of "the subjective feeling of security of the Viennese" in connection with measures in public spaces. There are "certain appearances that repeatedly characterize some places in Vienna," said the police president. However, from the experiences at Praterstern, it was learned that the alcohol ban is "a measure that significantly facilitates police intervention," said the senior official.

Further prohibition zones are currently not under consideration, Ludwig stated. Such measures must always be well thought out and "are not used hastily, but always after appropriate examination of the facts," said the mayor. "Because what we do not want to achieve is to create problems in other parts of the district through a measure."

FPÖ: "Late U-Turn"

The ÖVP and the FPÖ welcomed the ban on Wednesday, but noted that this was only a first step that was long overdue. The Blues spoke of a "late U-turn", the SPÖ had "finally followed a long-standing FPÖ demand," FPÖ state party chairman and city councilor Dominik Nepp shared in an initial reaction. It is incomprehensible, "why the SPÖ does not act consistently and implement similar measures at Keplerplatz in Favoriten."

The ÖVP spoke of "years of delay", after all, the ÖVP had long advocated for the ban at Franz-Jonas-Platz. While it is positive that the city government is finally taking action, "but an alcohol ban alone will not be enough," said the head of the ÖVP Vienna Karl Mahrer. He called for "a comprehensive security offensive."

(APA/Red)

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