2,116 illegal bars, nightclubs closed in Algeria

A total of 2,116 restaurants, bars and party rooms were closed in the last months due to nonconformity to executive decree No 207-05 dated on June 4th, 2005, according to figures given by Algerian Interior Ministry.

• The figures show that 80 percent of the 706 party rooms in Algeria were stopped from working while 55 are still open in Algiers only.
• Those rooms were stopped from working because they violate a law promulgated in 2005 which determines conditions for opening such facilities. One of its clauses stressed the necessity of car parks in the party rooms while the owners of those rooms considered that the decree only involves restaurants, nightclubs and bars.
• In November 2005, dozens of people burnt three nightclubs in Algiers over a quarrel which left one dead. This event was about to take serious dimensions as security forces was in high alert.
• Authorities had to study ways likely to organise such commercial activity by issuing the executive decree No 207-05 dated on June 4th, 2005 to put and end to different abuses and possible dangerous consequences.
• According to the latest figures of the Statistics National Centre, there are more than registered 514 wine shops in Algeria. Of them, 141 are located in Tizi Ouzou province (100 km east of Algiers) followed by Algiers with 131 shops and Bejaia (east of Algiers) with 112.
• On the other hand, the figures of the Statistics National Centre do not reflect the real number of wine sellers. Dozens of them are not registered at commercial register department. That is shown in the work of many wholesale traders who market different kinds of wine. Of them, more than 50 work in Algiers.
• The number of wine manufacturing units in Algeria is estimated at 8.138 thousand hectolitres in addition to 189 wine factories.
• Public authorities have not excluded luxury restaurants especially in Algiers in terms of the implementation of the executive decree No 207-05. The owners of the restaurants do not have accreditation files. One of the closed restaurants is owned by a foreign national due to nonconformity to clauses in the decree.
• The accreditation file for opening and using an entertainment institution includes the approbation of the Civil Protection, security forces and municipal cleanness committee. Applicants also must have commercial register, property or rent certificate and make an announcement.
• The same figures show that over 30,000 people lost their jobs due to the closure decision.
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