Tilburg catering entrepreneurs are tired of people misbehaving in their business under the influence of drugs. That is why pub owners may refuse these visitors from their café or bar from the end of May. If someone misbehaves very badly, it is even possible to impose a ban on all catering establishments in the city center.
Danique Pals
In recent years, especially since corona, catering staff in Tilburg have noticed that drug use is becoming increasingly normal. According to Geoffrey Ibes, from the Tilburg department of the interest group Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, this mainly has to do with the so-called designer drugs.
“These types of drugs are fairly cheap and not officially illegal,” Ibes explains. “It is allowed because it contains a substance that is not prohibited by law. As soon as that substance is banned, drug makers add another substance that is permitted. This way the drugs are legal again and that is worrying.”
“It is often the combination with alcohol that makes drugs dangerous.”
Ibes and his colleagues are particularly concerned because the composition of these types of drugs is constantly changing. “Putting things up your nose or swallowing something that you don’t know what is in it is not desirable. And it is often the combination with alcohol that makes drugs dangerous.”
In Tilburg, doormen and bar owners often see that people behave unpleasantly when they are under the influence. From the end of May they can refuse these people for three months, six months or even longer. “Catering entrepreneurs can deny someone access to a specific pub, but also to all affiliated catering companies in the center,” says Ibes.
According to Ibes, this measure is desperately needed. “Last weekend, a 22-year-old woman went wild against a bar worker and a police officer.” According to him, there is a good chance that such a person will be banned from the entire center.
“Doorkeepers are trained to recognize faces.”
A complete ban from the center is therefore given if someone shows genuine misconduct. “There may be ten to fifteen per year,” Ibes estimates.
Through a private online portal, all catering entrepreneurs can see which persons have been denied access. There are also photos of these people. “There won’t be hundreds, but a few per month. Doormen are trained to recognize faces. They can then refuse that person.”
“If you are no longer allowed to enter the city for six months, that is really not fun.”
Ibes hopes that this new measure will make people more aware. “If you are refused entry to a pub, you can go to the tent next door with your group of friends. If you are no longer allowed to enter the city for six months, that is really not fun.” With this denial, the entrepreneurs hope that people will be less likely to enter into confrontation.
An anti-drug campaign also started in Tilburg at the beginning of this year. This campaign coincidentally coincides with the new measure to refuse people in the city.
“I don’t think we can improve the world with this campaign, but I do think we can get people talking,” says Ibes. “Hopefully we create awareness that it is not normal to use drugs.”
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