Closing down a bar can have several effects on the neighborhood and its inhabitants. Since youth are the major patrons of bars, their lifestyles and pastimes would also alter significantly when bars are closed en masse. Those who are pressing for closing down of bars believe that such a move would discourage teenage and underage drinking. On the other hand, there are those who believe that actually lowering the drinking age to 16 would reduce drinking, as teenagers would be given more autonomy in controlling their drinking habits. Some believe that bars corrupt the minds of the youth and bring down the standards of civil society. (Voas, et.al., 2002, p.286) There is also copious evidence to back the claim that habitual drinking is one of the major causes of liver failure among American citizens. If these claims are indeed true, then closing down bars would help improve moral and health standards in society. The rest of the essay will ascertain the likely effects that closing down bars would bring about.
One of the problems that closure of bars could lead to is Driving Under Influence of Alcohol (DUI). Bars serve as social settings where people can consume moderate quantities of liquor and still be able to drive their cars. Bartenders are also trained to keep an eye on patrons drinking excessively and persuade them to stop. In the absence of such a place, drinkers can lose track of their consumption levels and can easily become inebriated. This could prove dangerous if they happen to drive their car immediately after their binge. Law enforcement officers, upon intercepting drunk drivers can impose heavy fines and in extreme/chronic cases even revoke the driver’s license. Moreover, bartenders are trained to spot and thwart underage patrons from being served. This control net to prevent underage drinking would also be eliminated with the closure of bars.
A prominent cause why bars are closed is the pressure from the anti-alcohol lobby. Also referred to as alcohol beverage control, this agency can impose heavy fines on bars found not to comply with government regulations. This is unfortunate, for often, the rules are heavily stacked against running bars. Another major reason why bars get shut down is due to the hefty fines imposed by alcohol beverage control. The profitability of the business would be seriously brought into question upon a slew of fines. Special taxation provisions under commercial law could also make running bars an unviable proposition. (Jones et.al, 2009, p.34)
There is no hard data to back the claim that binge-drinking problem among the youth of the country would be reduced by the closing down of bars. Closing down bars does not mean that the problem of underage drinking would be brought under control. Evidence from the UK, where laws were passed to close down pubs, suggests otherwise. Charlotte Raven, speaking about the ineffectiveness of licensing restrictions and bar closures, feels that “the whole notion of being “chucked out” by government edict at some arbitrary point in the evening feels undemocratic.” (Raven, 2005, p.30)
Brewery companies that manufacture and supply to bars across the country would also be adversely affected by the closing down of bars. Major alcoholic beverage companies make millions of dollars in profits each year, a large percentage of the retail distribution happening via bars. When the latter would be closed down this supply chain would be adversely affected, leading to significant losses for the companies until they find alternative ways of continuing supply. Once again, one would not see any long-term decline in drink consumption among the youth, as these companies find novel ways of advertising and marketing their products to the target consumer group. (Gunnell, 2005, p.20)
More than being commercial retail outlets, bars have become an integral part of the American social experience. Upon closure of bars, a key aspect of the American popular culture would be altered. The importance of cultural identification cannot be over emphasized. This observation is as valid in the case of bars as it is with other cultural identifiers. Having thus presented the positive consequences of continued existence of bars, it should be stated that their closure could improve health outcomes and reduce crime rates in the surrounding localities. Brawls are a common feature of bars and brawls starting inside it often continue outside as gang fights and shoot-outs. So while closing down bars may not significantly reduce the consumption of alcohol among the youth, it will certainly deprive them of a social setting in which much of the criminal activity brews. As an indirect outcome of closing down bars, the health status of adolescents and young people is set to improve as well. This assessment should be qualified with the following findings from a research study: “Although the full prohibition of alcohol sales has been demonstrated to reduce alcohol problems in remote communities or on special occasions, it is not a viable option in highly populated urban areas. There, limited restrictions and partial bans are more feasible policy alternatives. The evidence presented herein supports the notion that a partial restriction on alcohol sales can affect drinking in large communities.” (Voas, et.al., 2002, p.286)
Works Cited:
“Alcohol Ideas out of Touch; VIEWPOINTS.” South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales) 8 Apr. 2009: 34.
Gunnell, Barbara. “What We Don’t Know about Drinking: Is There a Connection between Binge Drinking, Alcohol-Related Illness and the Licensing Hours? No One Really Knows, Writes Barbara Gunnell, and That Includes the Government.” New Statesman 29 Aug. 2005: 20+.
Raven, Charlotte. “Drink and Be Damned: New Laws Won’t Reduce Our Frantic Consumption of Alcohol. Booze Occupies a Hole in Our Core Sense of Identity Which Used to Be Filled by Music or Politics.” New Statesman 7 Feb. 2005: 30+.
Voas, Robert B., James E. Lange, and Mark B. Johnson. “Reducing High-Risk Drinking by Young Americans South of the Border: The Impact of a Partial Ban on Sales of Alcohol.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol 63.3 (2002): 286+.