Ice Cream & Pizza Ban
Earlier in April, Milan’s local government filed a paper aiming to ban the serving of ice cream and pizzas in Northern Italy from 12.30am on weekdays, and 1.30am on weekends, with the proposed plan due to come into effect from May 17th and continue yearly from May to November
The proposed plans were aimed at clamping down on noisy groups crowding in the streets late at night, and apply to the areas of Nolo, Lazzaretto, Melzo, Isola, Sarpi, Via Cesariano, Arco della Pace, Como-GaeAulenti, Porta Garibaldi, Brera, Ticinese, and Darsena-Navigli. The deputy mayor, Marco Granelli talked about the proposed ban and said “The goal is to seek a balance between socialising and entertainment, and the peace and tranquillity of residents.”
However, the proposed bans were met with widespread backlash and criticism, with the council backtracking their suggestion, with the new law focusing on alcohol consumption late at night, instead of pizza and ice cream. The precedent of the Italian Federation of Business has sided with the removal of the ban, telling sky news "The anti-ice cream law was absurd and was a devastating message for the tourism we live on."
This was the second try the city has made to ban ice cream after midnight, after the 2013 mayor, Giuliano Pisapisa attempted to do the same, but was forced the change his mind after crowds of angry ice cream vendors met outside the town’s city hall to refuse the ban.
Puppy Yoga ban
The next ban, which is looking more realistic and likely, has been brought about by Italy’s Ministry of Health, who has banned puppy yoga, after numerous complaints have been made regarding the condition and welfare of the puppies.
Puppy yoga has taken the world by storm, and become a known activity for decreasing anxiety while puppies as young as six weeks old wander around the room, with some being incorporated into yoga poses. While it may be calming for the attendees, concerns first arose after the popular Italian news show “Striscia la Notizia”, investigated the practice in March, and found that puppies were being mistreated and kept in small pens between classes. Allegations also exist stating that the puppies have been refused water to prevent urination during the sessions.
The head of the One Health department of Italy’s health ministry, Giovanni Leonardi, stated that using dogs during yoga classes is caught under the country’s Animal Assisted Interventions Act, and that only adult dogs can be used in animal-assisted sessions from now.
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