The city of Montpellier has decided to tighten regulations governing the operation of late-night grocery stores in several neighborhoods. Starting this weekend, these businesses will have to close at 22 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday, a measure presented as necessary to preserve public order in the face of increasingly frequent disturbances.
Nuisances, alcohol and local tensions
Nine areas are affected, including the historic center, the banks of the Lez River, and several working-class neighborhoods. On weekdays, the sale of alcohol will also be prohibited after 22 p.m., a restriction previously limited to holiday periods. The city council justifies this order by citing noisy nighttime gatherings, damage to public spaces, repeated violations, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Local authorities also point to more serious issues surrounding these businesses, which are regularly suspected of supplying illegal networks and are sometimes at the heart of criminal violence. Several fatal fires in recent months have reinforced the city's determination to regain control of nightlife in the most vulnerable areas.
