Locarno considers rules on alcohol, smoking and music in sensitive areas

A municipal regulation to protect decorum and safety in Locarno's public spaces. That is what councillors Simone Merlini (PLR) and Giuseppe Abbatiello (Il Centro) are calling for in a motion submitted to the city's legislative body.

The text covers squares, parks, gardens, school grounds and other sites of touristic, cultural or historical significance. The aim is not to impose a blanket ban on alcohol consumption, smoking, music played through loudspeakers, or the use of barbecues and grills. Instead, the two councillors want to give the municipal government a clear and proportionate legal basis, to be applied only when the situation objectively justifies it.

That legal basis is currently missing. The gap became apparent when the municipal government had banned the consumption of alcoholic drinks in certain areas considered problematic, including the gardens of the Castello Visconteo. The canton had judged that ordinance arbitrary, since it was not backed by a specific regulation.

Responding to an earlier question from Merlini, the municipal executive had said it did not consider a dedicated regulation necessary at this stage, given that the prevention and monitoring tools already available were sufficient. It had added, however, that if recurring and duly documented situations were to arise, it would be ready to propose the necessary measures. The motion builds on exactly that opening: it does not call for new bans now, but wants to prepare the legal tool for use in future, should it be needed.

Two categories of sensitive areas

The proposed regulation distinguishes two types of areas. The first covers places that are sensitive because of their specific purpose, such as playgrounds, school grounds or spaces mainly intended for children and young people. The second covers areas that become sensitive because of concrete, recurring problems documented through objective evidence.

Free use of public spaces remains the rule. Restrictions, to be set through an ordinance and made visible with appropriate signage, must remain the exception and respect the principles of public interest, necessity and proportionality.

In sensitive areas, the municipal government will be able to restrict or ban the consumption of alcoholic drinks, smoking, the playing of music through loudspeakers, the lighting of fires and the use of grills. It will also be able to limit the use of glass bottles and glasses, and set specific hours of use for each area.

Measures linked to an area's permanent purpose may apply with no set end date. Those based on concrete problems will last a maximum of twelve months, and can only be renewed after a fresh assessment of the situation.