Fasnacht Arrives; Unemployment Statistics Update; Consolidated Fare Dodger System Coming Soon; Bars Warned To ID For Fasnacht

News For 13 February 2018

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which means the following Monday is the start of Fasnacht (or Carnival) in Basel.  The 72 hour festival commences, as always, at 4:00 am with a parade of all the participating cliques known as the Morgestreich.  If you've never been, prepare for crowds, the endless music of pipes and drums, confetti and controlled mayhem.  

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According to the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the unemployment rate has developed quite differently in Basel’s respective half cantons. In Basel-Land it has stayed at 3.0%, versus a rise of 0.1% in Basel-Stadt, bringing the rate to 3.8%. Last month, the number of registered unemployed people increased by 69 to a total of 4463 in Baselland. In Basel-Stadt, there were 74 new registered unemployed people, which adds up to 3790 people.

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We've all been known to ride the trams, busses and trains without a valid fare every once in a while.  We might have even only given a passing thought to the fine associated with being caught, knowing that we'd behave thereafter and avoid the escalating fines doled out to repeat offenders.  From April of next year on, however, you'll want to be sure to always have your tickets.  Switzerland intends to consolidate its database of fare dodgers, across its entire network of public transportation systems.  Get caught without a ticket on Basel's trams, your fine is 100 CHF, get caught a second time on a bus in St. Gallen within two years, and you'll be fined the next tier of fines.

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Fasnacht is fast approaching, and with it the excessive consumption of alchohol. Every year, the Basel police have problems with alcohol-related violence, often brought on by teenagers. 2 years ago, mystery shoppers were sent amongst the Fasnacht crowd in Liestal, and it was discovered that few bars and bartenders respected underage drinking laws, often serving alcohol to minors. Last year, 70% of the bars open for Fasnacht checked the IDs of teenagers. This year, the police hopes to crack down harder: up until now, bars were let off with a warning. This year, those who are caught serving alcohol to minors will be denied their permit to serve alcohol at Fasnacht in the future.