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This new rule adopted since January 1st is going to spoil the outdoor experience for people in Lyon

undefined undefined 24 mars 2025 undefined 09h13

The Editor

Michel PERES / Shutterstock.com

Having a drink on the terrace, yes, but only while seated! A little-known rule from the municipal regulations is reminding Lyon's café owners to keep things in order: no more standing consumption or high tables. It's another tough blow for the professionals in the industry, who are already under pressure.

Lyon is tightening the screws on its terraces, and café owners are not taking it well. After the ban on outdoor heaters and the reduction of permitted areas, a new constraint has been added to the list: no more standing consumption! A little-noticed article in the municipal regulations now requires customers to remain seated while enjoying a drink on the terrace. In other words, goodbye to high tables and spontaneous drinks leaning against the outdoor counters.

The document, which has been in effect since March 2024, requires mandatory compliance by January 1, 2025. But with the arrival of sunny days and the return of seasonal terraces, this news is hard to swallow. The professionals are caught off guard, and for good reason: this tightening of the rules directly impacts their way of working.

No more high tables or barrels

Behind this decision lies a clear intention to regulate public space and limit nuisances. But for restaurateurs, this is yet another constraint that could impact their revenue, especially in a city where the art of enjoying a drink is also experienced standing up, chatting with friends. The Union of Trades and Industries of Hospitality (Umih) in Rhône had to clarify the situation in response to the confusion among its members: yes, high tables are also affected, and no, it will no longer be possible to toast casually while leaning against a barrel.

Sanctions? They can range from a simple warning to the outright revocation of the terrace permit. This is enough to give managers cold sweats, already facing strict regulations. So, is Lyon going to lose some of its friendly atmosphere? Professionals are denouncing an increasingly rigid regulation that ultimately stifles their trade.


Source: <Lyon Mag