Alcohol, Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Tourism

"The evidence collected during the investigation showed in court that in addition to a general disturbing situation on Suur-Karja Street, people who can be associated with the Taco bar cause trouble," spokesperson for the court Anneli Vilu told BNS.

According to Vilu, customers and people who come from other entertainment establishments convene at an establishment that is still open to buy food or alcohol or to just socialize, and based on witnesses statements and video recordings made by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) it is known that alcohol consumption continues near Taco bar.

Therefore the court found that the decision of the Tallinn city government is lawful and there is no basis for declaring it void, Vilu said.

The decision can be appealed until May 27.

So far the court has satisfied only the appeal of M&A Pubid OÜ, owner of the Dubliner pub, while deciding not to satisfy the appeals of the Valli bar as well as Lab OU and Acacia Trade OU, the owners of the two Labor bars.

The Tallinn city government in October decided to impose economic activity restrictions on 10 bars mainly situated in Suur- Karja Street in the Old Town, and the restrictions include a ban to sell alcohol from Monday to Friday from midnight to 5 a.m. and from Saturday to Sunday from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. The restrictions concern Nimeta bar, Shooters, St. Patrick, Labor, Labor 2, Route 13, Valli bar, Taco Express, Dubliner and Bayern Bohmen Keller.

Representatives of the ten bars in November lodged a complaint with the ministers of economy and justice, saying that notably shortening the opening hours of the bars would mean that their business operations would suffer.