The message will be proclaimed on various plates and posters. And those who do not adhere to the rules after two months run the risk of being thrown on the voucher faster.
A tour through the center shows that some of the people are happy with the municipality’s decision. The Meppelse Liantha sees it as something positive. “Certainly, because it is really a disaster here during the weekend.”
“People here drink on the Kerkplein and leave their cans just like that. The window of my store has already died here and has just been replaced. And as soon as they go home they piss all the playgrounds and parks underneath.”
She gets support from Babette who makes a round about Prinsenplein. “I lived above,” she points to an apartment on the square. “So I know the nuisance all too well.”
De Meppelse is talking about youngsters in the neighborhood in particular. “I understand that they are drinking here. Sometimes they are too young to go into the pub and it is too expensive, but the nuisance is there. I understand the municipality’s action.”
Yet not every resident thinks the same thing about it. Amber, who regularly goes into the city, finds it nonsense. “Whether you drink outside of drinks or inside the pub, the alcohol is already in someone’s system. Someone who comes out of the pub can also cause nuisance by shouting or looking for someone.”
The mayor, on the other hand, hopes that the action will bear fruit. And whether there is enough capacity to maintain? “That will work,” he says. “In Meppel we already have the most police deployment while going out. We are prepared for this.”
Camera surveillance also appears to be an option in the future. Maathuis has been active as a new mayor of Meppel for about six weeks and has a good picture of the nuisance. “I think it is necessary, but in the end the city council will decide on that. Possibly more about that later this year.”