The Copenhagen municipality should revoke the liquor licenses of up to one in every five bars, according to experts, doctors, and patient organizations. Politicians are sceptical.

Experts: close down one in five bars

20. aug. 2009 09.31 English

The Copenhagen municipality should revoke the liquor licenses of up to one in every five bars, according to experts, doctors, and patient organizations.

The backdrop is a new study conducted by the Copenhagen municipality, which shows that one in three residents of the municipality have what is termed a hazardous consumption of alcohol.

Head of Forebyggelseskommisionen (the Commission for Prevention), Mette Wier says to daily newspaper Berlingske Tidende that the municipality ought to take on the responsibility of combating alcohol problems in the city.

- And in this connection, an obvious place to start would be to look at the number of liquor licenses, says Mette Wier.

The proposal gets a cool reception at City Hall:

- Instead, we should be focusing on increased awareness and better treatment options for those who are slipping towards an abusive relationship with alcohol, says kultur- og fritidsborgmester (Mayor for Culture and Leisure) Pia Allerslev (Venstre).