Koksijde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Koksijde banned alcohol at Guido Gezelleplein and Casinoplein after 100 complaints. Mayor Sander Loones says it targets public nuisance. Ban runs until the end of September 2025, cafes excluded.
As VRT News reported, Koksijde has made it illegal to drink alcohol in Guido Gezelleplein and Casinoplein. This decision was made because there were too many problems caused by people drinking in public. Over the past year, the police received nearly 100 complaints about issues in these areas.
Many of these problems involved people who were drunk during the day. The issues included loud behaviour, public drunkenness, littering, and even some aggressive behaviour. The town, which is a popular place for tourists, particularly in the summer, wants to make sure that its public spaces are safe and welcoming for everyone.
“Students studying in the library are being harassed, as are families with children waiting for the tram,”
Says Loones.
“In fact, the police even received reports of physical violence, including fights among themselves.”
What prompted Koksijde’s alcohol ban after 100 complaints?
Mayor Sander Loones explained to us that they made this new ban since the problems keep happening and people are being bothered, too, because not only were people drinking, they were drinking to excess and getting rowdy throughout the day.
Now there’s an alcohol ban in place at all times on both Guido Gezelleplein and Casinoplein, and the police will be enforcing this ban. Signs will be made to ensure the public sees and understands the new rules and that they face penalties for disregarding the ban.
The mayor, Sander Loones, understands that the issue could potentially shift to other areas. He admits that this is a valid concern. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that comparable alcohol restrictions in other communities have mostly worked as intended. He thinks it helps to minimise public disturbances and generally improves the environment in a specific area.
The town will closely monitor the situation, paying attention to the individuals causing the trouble. If necessary, they are prepared to implement individual area bans, specifically targeting repeat offenders to prevent them from entering certain zones.
The alcohol ban is not permanent; it will be reviewed at the end of September 2025. The town will see how it went and might change things. The ban has some rules. It doesn’t stop people from drinking at the tables outside cafes and restaurants. They can still drink there if the cafe serves them.
