Pizza is a food both Italians and non-Italians enjoy, especially after a long night out with friends. Despite its position as one of the most popular midnight snacks in the world, an Italian city is moving to ban this popular dish along with ice cream and other late-night eats to protect the peace and health of the public.
Milan, the second largest city in Italy, has proposed a new law that would ban these food options starting at 12:30 AM on weekdays and 1:30 AM on weekends and public holidays from mid-May through November. The ban would apply to all takeaway food, including drinks, in the following areas of the city in an effort to curb noise levels and crowded streets during the first few hours of the morning: Nolo, Lazzaretto, Melzo, Isola, Sarpi, Via Cesariano, Arco della Pace, Como-GaeAulenti, Porta Garibaldi, Brera, Ticinese, and Darsena-Navigli.
According to Mayor Giuseppe Sala, the legislative push comes in the wake of a large segment of the population complaining of excessive noise. “In my role, I have to listen to all citizens, including those who have to work and those who want to do their business,” said Sala. “The goal is to seek a balance between socializing and entertainment, and the peace and tranquillity of residents.” Marco Granelli, the deputy mayor who is in charge of security, echoed this sentiment by stating that he looks to strike a “balance between sociality and entertainment, the peace and health of the residents and the free economic activity of traders and entrepreneurs.”
This isn’t the first time an Italian city has passed laws to maintain tranquility past a certain hour. For example, Rome requires residents and visitors to refrain from noisy activity between 11:00 PM. and 7:00 AM. This also isn’t the first time that the local government has tried to ban late-night foods in Milan, but the first attempt to do so in 2013 was quickly squashed after a group of angry ice cream sellers protested the move with an ‘Occupy Gelato’ sit-in.
While the current proposal is likely bad news for consumers and business owners alike, the law is far from set in stone. In fact, citizens will have until early May to appeal the legislation and suggest changes, so there is still hope for all the pizza and gelato lovers of the Northern Italian city.
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