Just before the turn of the year, Huizer pub owner Herman Westerveld of Café Parrewijn is told that he will no longer be allowed to serve alcohol from 1 January. Westerveld: “If this continues, three families will go to hell.”
What’s the case? The mayor of Huizen withdraws the alcohol license of the Parrewijn catering facility on the Oostermeent. After an alcohol check by the police, the bartender, after previous warnings, was again caught. According to the police, Westerveld was drunk behind the bar and refused to blow.
The fact that agreements had already been made with law enforcement to be sober during his bar duties did not help either. Police said he smelled of alcohol and walked unsteadily. “It’s not surprising that they say that. I stand behind the bar and regularly pour a glass of liquor. Of course I smell like liquor. Being whiskey and beer is not odorless.”
“You have been given a final warning twice”
Westerveld heard from the judge yesterday that the municipality is within its rights with the ban on serving alcohol in its catering facility. In any case, until January 19, the owner is not allowed to serve drinks, then the municipality will deal with this case during a hearing. The administrative judge in Utrecht believes that the municipality is in the right: “You have received a final warning twice. There is no way that you can handle this alcohol license responsibly.”
“I hope the municipality will give me another chance”
The court also found the interest of the municipality to outweigh the financial interest of the pub owner. “And I think that’s nonsense,” says the owner of Parrewijn.
“I invested heavily this year to make the café even more fun. That costs money, I had to borrow for that. Three families have to eat. If this continues, I will go bankrupt. One thing is certain: a pleasant start to the “This is not New Year’s Eve. I hope that the municipality will give me another chance. I also promise that this will not happen again.”