Looking to Bern: How a city’s nightlife lobby can make its mark

How much space should be available for nightlife in the city and, above all, where? These are questions that have been discussed again and again for years. They have been the most heated discussions since then when the “Boa” cultural center had to close in October 2007 due to conflicts with its neighbors. In order to avoid a second case of “boa”, the residents of the new development between the Kanti Alpenquai and the greenhouse had to agree that they had to withstand a certain level of noise on the weekends, emanating from the greenhouse.

There are also current efforts in urban politics to better protect nightlife. At most with specially designated zones. Last May, the SP submitted a corresponding initiative (Zentralplus reported). The city council, however, sees little opportunity to take action, as it stated in its answer.

New interest organization in Lucerne

In order to ensure that the concerns of the various players in nightlife, especially politicians, have more weight and a hearing, the city of Lucerne has now set up its own bar and club committee. Tomorrow Wednesday she will officially introduce herself to the media and provide information about her goals and purpose.

Lucerne’s cultural and night economy businesses are not alone in this country with their initiative. A very successful and influential sister organization has existed in Bern for a good ten years. This came about as a reaction to a similar case as the «Boa». The popular club Sous Soul in the city center had to close because of the noise complaints of a new neighbor.

Corona has further bundled interests

Co-President of the Bern Bar and Club Commission (Buck) is FDP City Parliamentarian Tom Berger. “The situation of various nightlife businesses was very tense when we were founded. Many popular bars and clubs were threatened or had to close because of individual noise complaints. It became clear to us that the political ear for the industry had to be improved ”, the 34-year-old describes the beginnings of Buck.

“So it goes step by step towards a city that we would actually like to have.”

Tom Berger, Co-President of the Bern Bar and Club Commission

Meanwhile, more than 100 companies from all over the canton as well as individuals are members. Like Berger, some of them are politicians. Because of the developments around the lockdown, the number of members has grown significantly in the last few months. “If you want to get something positive out of the pandemic, it is that our industry has moved closer together. Also in order to better bundle interests, ”says Berger.

Will the night’s rest be postponed?

Successes have been recorded several times over the past ten years. At the instigation of Buck, there have been improvements in nighttime public transport connections. Together with other organizations it was also possible to prevent the federal government from massively tightening the noise protection regulations. But even at the municipal level, the political discussions often revolve around the noise problem.

“An election recommendation on our part can definitely have an influence on the result.”

Tom Berger

“The Bern city parliament is currently drafting new noise regulations that are less restrictive than the previous one.” The government proposed postponement of the night’s rest from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., which of course would also be in the interests of the Bern Bar and Club Commission, said Berger. “Step by step, we are moving towards a city that we would actually like to have. A city that is allowed to live and where people don’t just sleep and work. “

When the Commission influences elections

According to Berger, the Buck’s work is particularly evident in the fact that in Bern politics there has been a change in attitudes towards nightlife. In this way, one has gradually been able to improve the understanding of administration, politics, but also the residents. Several proposals, for example to simplify the approval process, were successfully introduced in the Bern city parliament.

Ultimately, you conduct a classic political lobbying, place the concerns directly with politics and administration and stand in exchange with politicians who have ideas that match those of Buck. “I also believe that this can have a say in whether a candidate is elected to parliament. A recommendation on our part can definitely have an impact on the result, ”says Berger, not without pride.

Buck and city government in lockstep

The City of Bern has assessed Buck’s work so far as extremely positive: “We have an excellent collaboration. The commission is running into open doors for us, ”says the council and security director Reto Nause (Die Mitte). Because the municipal council is also striving to liberalize nightlife. «We are currently a licensing authority. In the future, however, we would like to be able to be more active and increasingly appear as facilitators. ”

“Buck can even help us when we want to get sensitive proposals through the city council.”

Reto Nause, Bern Security Director (Die Mitte)

The problem, however, is that many provisions are regulated at cantonal or federal level. For example the federal noise protection ordinance. “As a result, we have long wanted the appropriate skills at community level. Because the nightlife in the city of Bern is different from that in Sumiswald, ”says Nause.

The Buck is backing the government

According to the bourgeois Bernese security director, the reason for the liberal attitude is that nightlife is an economic factor that should not be underestimated. In addition, a good nightlife offer contributes to the quality of life. And after Corona, the outdoor areas could be even more important than before, he suspects.

“In this sense,” emphasizes Nause, “Buck can even help us if we want to get sensitive bills concerning the liberalization of nightlife through the city council”. Because if you can refer to the Commission, it becomes clear that it is not about any individual interests, but about a broad need.

Important decisions are pending in Lucerne

The Buck continues to serve as a point of contact for the municipal council when it comes to sharpening the understanding of the views and possibilities of the city government. “If we had to talk to dozens of different bar and club operators individually, it would be much more difficult. The Buck is also a help in this regard, ”says Nause.

How successful the Lucerne Bar and Club Commission will be remains to be seen. Motivated by the view to Bern, it should certainly stir up politics in the coming years. The foundation is not a moment too early. For example, the development of the EWL area is imminent, the immediate vicinity of which is now a popular exit mile. The future of the new bathroom will also be discussed soon.

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