Where is it forbidden to settle a liquor outlet (bar, coffee, etc.)?

Verified 10 December 2025 - Entreprendre Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

It is not possible to open a bar wherever you want. There are zones where it is prohibited to distribute or sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on-site (licenses III and IV). There are also quotas which limit the number of beverage outlets per municipality. Some exemptions are possible.

There are places in the public space where the presence of an alcoholic beverage outlet is prohibited.

These zones are created for protecting health minors and consumers.

This is about perimeters determined around of the following establishments:

  • Stadium, gym, gym, any establishment of private or public physical or sports activities, swimming pool
  • Hospital, clinic, medical center, addiction care or reception center
  • Recreation center or collective accommodation for young people
  • Educational institution (public and private, of any educational level from school to university) or training institution.

These areas are delimited by prefectural decree.

The prefectural decree determines the extent of the protection zone and the forbidden distance defined from the main entrance of the “protected” establishment.

This distance is calculated in a straight line in order to take the shortest path and takes account of obstacles.

For any information, it is advisable to contact his prefecture:

Who shall I contact

This applies both to permanent places of sale (cafés, restaurants, nightclubs, etc.) and to places of sale or distribution of alcohol on temporary occasions (associative, local, cultural, sporting, etc.).

The zones of prohibition concern establishments selling alcohol in groups 3 and 4, i.e. beverages containing more than 1.2° of alcohol.

Establishments of takeaway of alcohol are not covered by these prohibition zones.

Only alcohol flow rates at consume on site are concerned. So it's the institutions that have a license III or a license IV. These are mainly bars and cafes. Restaurants are also affected, unless they sell alcohol only to be consumed during meals.

Example :

Let's take the example of a pizza truck that offers an on-site dining area in front of its truck and sells beers. It is not covered by the prohibition zones if the consumption of alcohol is carried out with the meal. Moreover, if it offers only take-out sales as is often the case, it can settle in a protected area. However, he must have obtained permission from the town hall to settle as a street vendor.

As a reminder, different licenses exist depending on the type of alcohol sale and the type of establishment:

Tableau - Types of licenses according to the nature of the beverages and activity

Type of drinks

Beverage flow

to be consumed on site

Beverage flow

take-away

Specific licenses for restaurants (on site)

Group 1 : beverages containing traces d'alcohol with a titration of less than 1.2 degrees (traces of fermentation possible in some lemonades, syrups, infusions, etc.)

OTC

OTC

OTC

Group 3 : undistilled fermented beverages with a less than or equal to 18° alcohol : wine, beer, cider, perry, mead, natural sweet wine, cream of blackcurrant, fruit or vegetable juices containing up to 3° alcohol, liqueur wine, wine-based aperitif, port, strawberry liqueur, raspberries, blackcurrant or cherries (the category of group 2 alcohols has been deleted and is classified in group 3)

License III, known as restricted license

Small take-away license + specific training if take-away at night

Small license restaurant or small restore license

Groups 4 and 5 : rums, tafias, distilled alcohols and all alcoholic beverages with a greater than 18° alcohol : gin, vodka, whisky, pastis, etc.

License IV, called large license or full exercise license

Prohibited for street vendors - Large take-away license for grocery stores and supermarkets + specific training if take-away at night

Restaurant license or large restore license

Example :

A restaurant that wishes to sell alcohols with a titer of more than 18°, must possess the restaurant license or large restore license. It is not necessary for him to possess license IV. A restaurateur who wishes to serve only (on site) alcohols measuring less than 18 ° (beer, wine for example), must possess the small license restaurant. They do not have to have license III.

The grocery stores and supermarkets they sell takeaway but unlike street vendors, they can sell strong alcohols of the 4th category. They must have a large take-away license.

If the sale is organized as part of a local event or celebration, the authorization of the town hall depends on the possible derogations for this type of case.

An establishment may sell alcohol even though it is in a no-go zone. These derogations differ if the flow of beverages is permanent or temporary.

Permanent beverage flow

Exceptions to the prohibitions are possible in the following 3 cases:

  • The flow of drinks was already settled when the area in which it is situated has become protected.
  • The restaurants who sell alcohol only with meals are not affected by these prohibitions.
  • If the municipality has maximum single throughput of alcoholic beverages to be consumed on the spot, the prefect can then authorize a debit of drinks in the zones of prohibition, after the opinion of the mayor. The authorization must be motivated by reasons of tourism or local animation.
Temporary Beverage Output

Two types of derogations are possible:

  • If the municipality has maximum a single flow of alcoholic beverages to be consumed on sitethe prefect may then authorize the dispensing of beverages in the prohibited areas, after consulting the mayor. The authorization must be motivated by reasons of tourism or local animation.
  • Within the sports establishments, the mayor may give an one-time authorization for the sale or distribution of alcohols measuring less than 18°. These include, for example, the following spirits: wine, beer, cider, perry, etc. 48 hours maximum.
    This derogation concerns demonstrations following:
    • Sports Association: 10 authorizations per year for each
    • Agricultural sector event: 2 authorizations per year per municipality
    • Tourism sector event: 4 per year.

    In the departments of the Guadeloupe, the French Guiana and the Martinique, these ad hoc authorizations also concern alcohols corresponding to license IV (license 4): rum mainly.

Please note

Whatever the venue of the event, occasional drinking outlets do not require a liquor license.

For any information, it is advisable to consult the town hall concerned:

Who shall I contact

There can only bea bar of drinks for 450 inhabitants.

Example :

In a municipality of 1,000 inhabitants, 2 bars or bars can be set up.

There are, however, exceptions. It is possible to derogate from this limitation in the following two cases:

  • If the installation takes place in a city or tourist municipality. The number of authorized beverage outlets is then defined by decree.
  • During the transfer of a drink bar in another municipality, in the case where the authorization of the transfer has been validated by the prefect.

A liquor store that chooses to open in a protected area despite the ban may be fined €3,750.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • To know the prefectural prohibitions

    Prefecture

  • To apply for a temporary alcohol debit authorization and to find out about tourist municipalities

    Town Hall

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