Carnival in Tilburg: still a binge
During the annual Carnival in Brabant, which is to be held during the first weekend of March, it’s usually all about the beer. Tilburg seems to hold this tradition dearly.
Most towns in Brabant are currently looking for solutions to the excessive alcohol consumption during the Dutch week of Carnival. Many places offer beer with a low percentage of alcohol, and restrict the use of so-called ‘booze wagons’ – a covered wagon with lots of beer, pulled by a tractor, on which partying people are carried during the Carnival parade.
But the administration of Tilburg is not planning to take any additional measures. According to Teun van Biljouw, project manager Enforcement of the administration of Tilburg, the local Carnival organization is responsible for the prevention of heavy drinking. “They state the conditions that the parade has to abide by. The police controls if they are carried out. Other than those, we don’t take measures against drinking.”
The Centre for Going Out Safe and Healthily understands it is difficult to legislate Carnival. “There are a thousand and one reasons not to do so”, Martijn Planken of the Centre argues. “It’s too much of a hassle. Furthermore, Carnival has always been a festivity in which alcohol plays a crucial role. Cutting the use of it back now seems inconsistent.” Still, Planken thinks it’s a shame that cities like Tilburg do not take extra measures to prevent intoxication. “The problem is passed on to other parties, such as Carnical associations, but the city’s administration should take its responsibility.”
[Wessel Wit/GeR. Translation Tom van Nuenen]
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