Night owls gathered in a bar in Mar Mikhael in August 2022. (Credit: Arthur Dumas/File photo/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — The governor of Beirut, Marwan Abboud, on Saturday ordered rooftop bars in Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael to cease "any artistic or musical activity within 15 days," and threatened "legal proceedings."
Many residents have complained about the nightly noise in the lively bar and restaurant district, prompting the municipality of Beirut to implement restrictive measures against bars last summer. However, such measures did little to stop the noise.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Abboud pointed a finger at "the operators of rooftops in Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael who did not obtain a certificate from the Ministry of Tourism to install and use speakers and other sound equipment."
Threat of permanent closure
"In accordance with public safety and interest, especially in residential areas, we inform the operators of rooftops in the areas of Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael of the need to stop any artistic or musical activity in the tourist establishments, and to disconnect the equipment and speakers in their possession within 15 days," the statement continued.
The city municipality said it instructed Internal Security Forces (ISF) to monitor the implementation of this order by "inflicting fines" on infringing establishments and by "sealing their sound and high-frequency equipment -speakers." It also warned that it could order the "definitive closure" of establishments that choose not to comply.
Last July, the municipality of Beirut issued a general order to bar establishments in Mar Mikhael and Gemmayze, asking them to lower their sound levels. It ordered all music to be turned off by 1 a.m.
