Hospitality covenant
Tytsjerksteradiel and Achtkarspelen would like to conclude a covenant with the regular and paracommercial catering establishments. In the covenant we want to make agreements on compliance and enforcement of laws and regulations, alcohol moderation and responsible alcohol consumption. Catering entrepreneurs who take responsibility themselves will be less burdened with municipal enforcement and supervision. We want this covenant for a number of reasons.
1. Putting responsibility where it belongs
The Liquor and Catering Act, the Liquor and Catering Ordinance and the permits based on the Act and the General Municipal Bye-Law contain rules that establishments must comply with. It is the entrepreneur's primary responsibility to comply with these rules. It is a job of the municipality to ensure that the establishment actually complies with the rules.
The hospitality industry is a well-organized and active industry. It is critical and often reflects on municipal plans that affect it. Such a serious industry must also be able to handle the responsibility to engage in the necessary self-reflection.
2. The hospitality industry has a social responsibility in addition to a variety of legal obligations
Excessive drinking, especially by young people, is a social problem. The hospitality industry can play a positive role in addressing this problem. Agreements can be made about this in a covenant. For example, it can be agreed with the entrepreneurs that there will be an active policy to discourage drinking by young people. This can be done e.g. with flyers, stickers and clear information in another way.
3. Win-win situation
Quid pro quo. The hospitality industry states that it takes the rules seriously and lives by them. It receives in return that the municipality will interfere less with the industry on this point. There will be less checks on compliance with the rules in the field of the Drinks and Catering Act, Drinks and Catering Ordinance, APV permits and rules. Only random checks and complaints will be made on this subject. Establishments that do not sign the covenant will be subject to at least one annual inspection.
4. Clear agreements
In an information meeting, the hospitality industry expressed a need for one known point of contact. The municipality declares to provide this. The "coordinator hospitality industry" is the spider in the web in everything that goes on between the municipality and the hospitality industry. He knows what is going on and is the link between both partners. A supervisor from the Toezicht en Handhaving Achtkarspelen/Tytsjerksteradiel team will fulfill this role for both municipalities.
The municipality also promises to monitor compliance with the rules by others and to take action within its enforcement policy. You can make fine agreements, but participants in the covenant deserve consistent action by the municipality when violations occur.
5. Reduced personnel burden
The supervision of the liquor and catering law is a new task for the municipality. For the municipalities in addition, less stringent supervision also reduces the additional personnel burden. The degree of "saving" depends on the number of participants in the covenant.
6. Community involvement is positive advertising for industry and municipality
Establishing agreements in a covenant makes a positive contribution to the image of the industry and the municipality. The media will be asked to pay attention to (the signing of) the covenant.
Legislation
The hospitality industry makes an important contribution to the liveliness and attractiveness of the municipality. A municipality without the hospitality industry is inconceivable. However, the hospitality industry also has its drawbacks. It can cause nuisance (loud music, noisy visitors, random parking of vehicles).
Several parties are involved in countering this nuisance. In the first place, the hotel and catering entrepreneurs themselves. They are primarily responsible for the smooth running of everything that takes place within their establishment, but also for what occurs in its immediate vicinity. In addition, the police have the task of maintaining public order and safety, followed if necessary by criminal prosecution by the public prosecutor. And furthermore, the municipality also fulfills an important role.
As creator of zoning plans and as issuer of permits, it is responsible for the design and adaptation of the physical living environment. It determines where catering establishments can be located and in doing so must ensure the right balance between the importance of a good catering offer on the one hand and the protection of the residential and living environment on the other. Furthermore, as a licensing authority, it co-supervises and, if necessary, enforces the licenses it issues. In order to perform these tasks well, the municipality has an extensive legal set of instruments.
Learn more
Young people in Friesland, like young people in the rest of the Netherlands, drink too much, too often and at far too young an age. Excessive drinking, more than five drinks in a short time, is increasingly common although the starting age for drinking alcohol is rising. Alcohol is harmful to health. It particularly affects the adolescent brain, which can lead to permanent brain damage. This is even more true for adolescents than for adults. This site provides tools for alcohol prevention for both users and providers.
The Nuchtere Fries project is a collaboration between the Frisian municipalities, GGD Fryslân, Verslavingszorg Noord Nederland, Police Fryslân, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland. Visit the website at http://www.nuchterefries.nl.
The legal text of the Liquor and Catering Act can be found at Overheid.nl.
For questions about the liquor and hospitality law, please call us at 14 0511 or email gemeente@t-diel.nl.