Tartu Aims to Make Night Streets Safer with New Strategy

The city of Tartu has unveiled a pre-strategy for developing evening and nightlife, aimed at making the city's nightlife more attractive and safer by 2035. The plan includes restricting off-premises alcohol sales after 10 p.m. and increasing police and security presence. Suggestions for the strategy draft can be submitted until 31 August.

Tartu has unveiled a pre-strategy for developing nightlife, drawn up through 2035. The main goal of the document is to make the city's night environment more attractive while also making it safer.

Restricting off-premises alcohol sales

One of the central proposals is to restrict off-premises alcohol sales after 10 p.m. Restaurants, clubs and bars are permitted to sell alcohol after 10 p.m., but only for on-premises consumption. Nevertheless, on Tartu's streets at night, people are frequently seen drinking alcohol from bottles in public spaces.

According to Tartu Deputy Mayor Kertu Vuks, the idea for the restriction came from business owners themselves. "After 10 p.m., alcohol can only be consumed on premises. It should not be the case that people buy a bottle and go drink it in the public space," she explained.

Genialists Club executive director Jaan Kroon noted that they have already begun restricting off-premises sales. "Problems existed, we understand them and are trying to solve them. There is returnable packaging and on the busiest evenings, club staff monitor this at the doors. But more problems arise with packaging that people take with them into the city," Kroon said.

Changes not yet visible

Vein and Vine bar manager Asser Jõgar highlighted that the main problems are related to off-premises sales of strong alcoholic drinks. Although since spring police have begun patrolling on foot during night hours and security companies have been engaged, he believes this has not brought noticeable change to problem areas.

"Vein and Vine closes at 2 a.m., and when staff go home, they know well where in the Old Town people go to public places or break bottles. When going home at night, you see that generally little has changed. The presence of police and security guards at least prevents the situation from getting worse. Officials should keep a steady eye on problem areas from a certain hour onward," Jõgar said.

Club and bar culture is changing

At the same time, Tartu has closed several clubs and bars in recent years. Earlier this month, Shooters, which had operated for 14 years, announced its closure.

Deputy Mayor Vuks noted that during strategy development, the question frequently arose of why nightclub culture habits have changed so much. "Based on feedback, one reason is that today's young people prefer to go to places where they can eat, socialise and then perhaps dance. This landscape is changing," she acknowledged.

The strategy aims to revitalise Tartu's nightlife, but in a way that is safe. Suggestions for the strategy draft can be submitted until 31 August 2026, after which a detailed action plan will be drawn up.