This is surprising news but will undoubtedly delight the managers of the capital's 15,000 drinking establishments. They will be exceptionally authorized to leave their establishments open all night in Paris during the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to a prefectural decree published this Wednesday.
In this decree, the Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez justifies his decision in particular by the fact that the holding of the Games "is part of a set of free festivities organized by the City of Paris, outside competition sites", that the “Paris celebrates the Games” system “entails numerous celebrations in different districts of Paris”, as well as “the exceptional nature of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”.
For these reasons, bars will therefore be authorized “without prior authorization” to remain open the nights of July 26 to 27, August 11 to 12, August 28 to August 29 and September 8 to 9. However, it is recalled in the decree that “operators of drinking establishments remain, even in this exceptional context, guarantors of the preservation of public order within their establishments”.
Bars will not be the only ones to benefit from this exemption since the takeaway sale of drinks and fast food products on public roads will also be authorized all night on the same dates.
News that may not be unanimous. In fact, several local residents' associations, including Right to Sleep, already denounced in March the "aberrant" decision of the mayor (PS) of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to extend the opening hours of summer terraces until midnight. They had notably denounced a “disregard for the health of local residents”.
- In this decree dated Wednesday, the prefect explains his decision in particular by the fact that the holding of the Games "is part of a set of free festivities organized by the city of Paris, outside competition sites" , as well as by "the exceptional nature of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games".
- The capital has around 15,000 drinking establishments.
- Several local residents' associations - Droit au Sommeil, the Vivre Paris network, which brings together neighborhood associations, and For a desirable city - protested in March against the decision of the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to grant permission to serve until midnight compared to the usual 10 p.m.
