Milan’s leaders have been accused of waging war against ice-cream in their bid to combat “wild nightlife” in the northern Italian city.
Marco Granelli, the deputy mayor for public security, recently announced a proposal banning the sale of takeaway food after midnight in the city’s popular nightlife districts.
Bars and restaurants would also be required to close outdoor areas from 12.30am on weekdays and 1.30am at weekends in the hope that the streets will be cleared of people, thus bringing peace and quiet to residents.
The crackdown, if approved, would come into force from next month until early November.
Even though pizza is also among the vast array of takeaway food targeted by the ban, gathering for an ice-cream late at night is such an intrinsic part of Italian culture that the prospect of the treat coming under attack is a step too far for many.
The mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, told reporters: “I would ask Barbieri to come to my office for a few hours because I have hundreds of reports from residents asking to be able to sleep better at night. I cannot avoid addressing this issue, it is not a quirk but a need of many … we are not changing the rules of the universe but imposing very slight limits.”
The ban is expected to apply to 12 areas, including the central districts of Brera and Ticinese, as well as Darsena, Arco della Pace and Lazzaretto, along with the busy thoroughfares of Corso Como and Corso Garibaldi.
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