Walking down the streets of Porto at night on a sunny summer evening, when people are just finishing dinner and deciding where to head next, you’ll likely stumble across groups perched on corners with a drink in hand, chatting and playing music.
The gatherings are part of Porto’s spontaneous charm; a phenomenon known as ‘botellon’ that’s largely associated with Spanish drinking culture but is also widespread in Portugal. However, it turns out residents of Portugal’s second city don’t find it so charming, and a new ban will soon come into place to crack down on public drinking at night.
From Wednesday, there will be a ban on sales of alcohol from supermarkets, convenience stores, wine cellars and souvenir shops from 9pm to 8pm in Porto’s ‘Containment Zone’. Only cafes, bars, restaurants and nightclubs will be allowed to sell alcohol within that window.
The so-called Containment Zone comprises the entire downtown area of Porto, including popular nightlife areas like Rua da Galeria de Paris.
Recommended: The five quiet, beautiful European islands that have avoided overtourism.
So, how exactly will the ban be implemented? According to the Portugal News, inspection bodies may ‘immediately close an establishment that is not complying,’ temporarily as a precaution. Why? Well, ‘what we noticed is that the successive application of fines did not dissuade economic agents from continuing to violate the rules, because paying the fine was worth it, because the fines were low,’ said the city’s mayor.
While there are hopes that this will succeed in curbing ‘botellon’ culture and improve the quality of Porto’s nightlife, not everyone is so sure the measure will be effective.
Miguel Camões, Porto Nightlife Bars and Discos Association president said: ‘The ‘botellon’ issue is significant because it often involves drinks that people bring from home or purchase from supermarkets during the day, so it’s not the venues selling these drinks for street consumption,’ according to Portugal Pulse.
Instead, Camões says more general legislation that prevents people from consuming alcohol in public areas, whether it’s from a shop or from home, would be more effective. Ricardo Tavares, president of the Portuguese Bars and Discos Association, seconded this, saying the measure ‘lacks wisdom’ and ‘operationally [won’t] bring any improvement [to the city].’
Keep an eye on this page for updates, and maybe plan your gatherings at one of Porto’s brilliant bars instead.
Did you see that this is officially the best European country for work-life balance in 2025?
Plus: The 8 European buildings named among the world’s most beautiful.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
