November 16, 2003
NIMBY, simply
Why must liquor licenses be a constant issue? The Post has a story about Adams Morgan's Blue room's problem selling enough food to get a restaurant license. In Washington, restaurant licences is harder to get than bar licenses, since neighbors put up more of a fight when a bar moves in. To maintain that license, "restaurants" have to sell a certain ratio of food to booze, a standard which might change to minimum annual food sales per seat.
Blue Laws and their bar permit cousins are an anachronism, a centuries-old sop to temperance activists. If people want to live in a place where entertainment is at their door, they shouldn't act so surprised when it's noisy at night. I agree that their is a problem with Adams Morgan. I once lived there and had to deal with it on occasion. I don't go up there as often as I used to because the Bridge & Tunnel crowd is very often out of control. Most people are perfectly capable of drinking in large groups, but there are some people who can't, and that's the problem, not the presence of bars. The police are hesitant to do anything except talk amongst themselves, lest they cause a panic.
What should be done: First of all, close 18th Street to car traffic on weekends. Too many people cruise it at slow speeds and walk in the street, so traffic slows down to a crawl. People sit on the cars parked on the street, which is a always a fight waiting to happen when the car's owner shows up. Put up a garage somewhere, and tell people to take Columbia Road.
In addition, bars need to be better neighbors. Bartenders should cut people off earlier and bouncers should refuse entry to people who are obviously too drunk.
And while I'm at it, liquor stores should be open on Sundays and supermarkets should be allowed to sell beer.
Posted by rj3 at November 16, 2003 1:18 PM
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