Walkers who take their own drinks in glass bottles with them when they go out; it is a thorn in the side of catering entrepreneurs. It costs bar owners turnover, but also creates unsafe situations. And King’s Day is typically such a day that it happens frequently. “Every year people are injured because glass is thrown or stabbed.”
“Young people are beyond shame and are just drinking from bottles on the street,” says Johan de Vos of the Breda department of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, full of annoyance. “And they leave the glassware on the floor. We are not happy about that. With popular events, such as King’s Day, it is really bad!”
“Every year people are injured because glass is thrown or stabbed.”
For safety reasons, pub owners have been tapping their beer in plastic cups during major public events for years. The glassware of bottles brought around (especially by young people) detracts from that measure.
“Every year people are injured because glass is thrown or stabbed,” explains De Vos. “In addition, it is dangerous for the police dogs and horses that are deployed on busy days. Or the walkers themselves who kick in with their feet.”
He continues: “We notice that it is happening more and more often. A good example is the number of road sweepers that had a flat tire last carnival. That was thirteen, more than three a day! And that costs money, because someone has to come every time. to fix the tires.”
“A free festival for the general public is no longer affordable due to costs.”
Ruud Bakker, catering entrepreneur and chairman of KHN Eindhoven, is experiencing the same problems in his city. He also sees an increase, although he also indicates that the glass and cans ban is also well enforced by the police around King’s Day.
An often heard excuse is that the catering industry is too expensive and that is why people buy their own drinks in the supermarket and take them with them. “Yes, listen, everything is getting more expensive”, Bakker counters. “There should be a little more understanding for that. If you look around you, you see price increases everywhere. Why do we as a catering industry always have to explain it. Our suppliers also ask more. And moreover, it is about more than just the price of a beer. We also have to invest a lot. We run entire productions on King’s Day.”
“People need to understand that they can’t always sit in the front row for a dime.”
Colleague De Vos in Breda explains. “At events such as Carnival, Jazz or now King’s Day, other costs come into play. You also pay for the entertainment. We provide a stage, lighting, sound and artists. That costs a lot of money and you have to factor that in. And then I’m not even talking about the staff, the security guards and things like that.”
“You already earn enough, I often hear people say. But people have to understand that they can’t always sit in the front row for a dime. A free festival for the general public is no longer affordable because of the costs.”
“I do understand the young people who bring their own drinks,” concludes De Vos. “And I’m not against banning either. That’s more for the municipality. I hope they understand us and take my story into consideration. If they wouldn’t do it, it would help us a lot.”