My Parish May Ban Alcohol Specials

[Crackle19]

The East Baton Rouge Parish City Council will most probably vote tomorrow to ban drink specials in the area of East Baton Rouge after the time of 9:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Here are some articles on the ban:

http://www.lsureveille.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/21/441fae89eb106
http://www.lsureveille.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/21/441fb8d0d029f

In the Metro Council PDF, it shows that their will be a public hearing on the bill. (I'm not completely sure because I thought they aready had a hearing, but I will be their anyway.)

The problem I have with the ban, other than being blatantly discrimnatory against college students (the ban will not go into affect until after 9:00 p.m., thus the legislators, people who get off work at 5:00p.m. for happy hour, and essentially any pro-business person the council doesn't want to piss off will NOT be affected. Only college student ADULTS will be affected by the ban because it is we who go to the bars and restaurants that late.) Essentially, it will be made illegal to give alcohol away for free, sell drink specials such as "two-for-one deals", etc.

Not only does this go against the basic principle of capitalism, it sends a louder message that whenever public safety or the name of security comes up, people's rights and privaledges need be taken away.

My request of you, both liberals and conservatives, is to give me more examples of Government taking away rights and liberties in the name of security. I have named a few as follows:

Illegal NSA Wiretapping
Warrantless Search and Seizure Granted By the Patriot Act
Torture
War on False Pretenses
MS Ban on Sex Toys (Recent)
Missouri to BAN providing birth control to low-income women (Recent) (http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...tid=52&threadid=1824309&enterthread=y)

Now, I don't want this to turn into a Bush bashing thread, although I do want people to give me your opinion on this issue at hand. Should we as citizens allow the government to take away drink specials which purposely and directly affect a minority (college students)?

I will be there to speak if they allow me. I want some opinions.

 

[ntdz]

You're comparing alcohol specials to torture, warrantless searches and Iraq? LMFAO...just leave this forum while you still have a shred of dignity.

 

[Meuge]

And yet these are all branches of the same tree.

 

[Crackle19]

Originally posted by: ntdz
You're comparing alcohol specials to torture, warrantless searches and Iraq? LMFAO...just leave this forum while you still have a shred of dignity.

Actually, they do compare. If you step outside your box for a moment and think. It is very simple: Government taking away certain rights and privaledges in the name of security. Some are on the national level. Some are on the state level. This one is on the local level. It is the CCCC who is pushing this forward in the name of stopping alcohol-related deaths and injuries. How long will we allow this to happen? When does someone say, "Don't punish the responsible people for the acts of a few idiots." or "If you're going to ban the drink specials, ban them for everyone, not just college-age adults."? How long will we give away certain privaledges in the name of security?

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: Crackle19

Originally posted by: ntdz
You're comparing alcohol specials to torture, warrantless searches and Iraq? LMFAO...just leave this forum while you still have a shred of dignity.

Actually, they do compare. If you step outside your box for a moment and think. It is very simple: Government taking away certain rights and privaledges in the name of security. Some are on the national level. Some are on the state level. This one is on the local level. It is the CCCC who is pushing this forward in the name of stopping alcohol-related deaths and injuries. How long will we allow this to happen? When does someone say, "Don't punish the responsible people for the acts of a few idiots." or "If you're going to ban the drink specials, ban them for everyone, not just college-age adults."? How long will we give away certain privaledges in the name of security?

The people elect the people who are making the laws, so what they're doing is essentially the will of the people. Now, do I believe these drink specials should be banned? No. Can I see why they might want to? Yes. Would banning them be reasonable? Sure, even though I don't agree with it.

I don't see any significant rights being taken away, maybe they should change the time from 9:00 to 11:00 or 12:00 or something...

 

[UglyCasanova]

Man come up to Ouachita Parish. At least down there you can buy alcohol on Sundays. :|

 

[Crackle19]

Originally posted by: ntdz

Originally posted by: Crackle19

Originally posted by: ntdz
You're comparing alcohol specials to torture, warrantless searches and Iraq? LMFAO...just leave this forum while you still have a shred of dignity.

Actually, they do compare. If you step outside your box for a moment and think. It is very simple: Government taking away certain rights and privaledges in the name of security. Some are on the national level. Some are on the state level. This one is on the local level. It is the CCCC who is pushing this forward in the name of stopping alcohol-related deaths and injuries. How long will we allow this to happen? When does someone say, "Don't punish the responsible people for the acts of a few idiots." or "If you're going to ban the drink specials, ban them for everyone, not just college-age adults."? How long will we give away certain privaledges in the name of security?

The people elect the people who are making the laws, so what they're doing is essentially the will of the people. Now, do I believe these drink specials should be banned? No. Can I see why they might want to? Yes. Would banning them be reasonable? Sure, even though I don't agree with it.

I don't see any significant rights being taken away, maybe they should change the time from 9:00 to 11:00 or 12:00 or something...

You're correct. But look at it this way:

They change the time from 9:00p.m. to all day long, thus including everyone, not just college students, into the ban. Then you take that same conception of, "The people elect the people who are making the laws, so what they're doing is essentially the will of the people." Now, what does the "will of the people" say? Do they go along with it because then not only have you grouped the college students, but you've grouped everyone together.

Also, it isn't exactly "the will of the people" when you have government funded associations such as the CCCC, who operate on LSU's campus, pushing and developing the bill.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Crackle19
The East Baton Rouge Parish City Council will most probably vote tomorrow to ban drink specials in the area of East Baton Rouge after the time of 9:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Here are some articles on the ban:

I will be there to speak if they allow me. I want some opinions.

Bahahahahah the Republicans taking away more liberties in Louisiana Bahahahahaha

 

[Genx87]

Drink specials are now a "right"? While I think this is interfering with the true "right" of a business owner to conduct his business in his own manner. Trying to create an argument based on the "right" to have a drink special will only get your laughed right out of town hall.

Personally I would focus more on points where the govt interfering with private business has lead to decline in the business. Using torture in the same sentence as the "right" to a drink special will get you nowhere.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Are they taking away the right to drink?

If not; then what is the problem?

Are they stating the college students are not allowed to drink?

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Crackle19
The East Baton Rouge Parish City Council will most probably vote tomorrow to ban drink specials in the area of East Baton Rouge after the time of 9:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Here are some articles on the ban:

I will be there to speak if they allow me. I want some opinions.

Bahahahahah the Republicans taking away more liberties in Louisiana Bahahahahaha

Where does it say that the City Council is made up of Republicans?

Edit: There are more Democrats than Republicans on the Council, Dave is a idiotic troll who needs a ban.

 

[Crackle19]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Drink specials are now a "right"? While I think this is interfering with the true "right" of a business owner to conduct his business in his own manner. Trying to create an argument based on the "right" to have a drink special will only get your laughed right out of town hall.

Personally I would focus more on points where the govt interfering with private business has lead to decline in the business. Using torture in the same sentence as the "right" to a drink special will get you nowhere.

Never did I say it was a "right", but a privaldge yes.

So we have 2 main concerns here:

"Personally I would focus more on points where the govt interfering with private business has lead to decline in the business."

and

"Are they stating the college students are not allowed to drink? "
Not exactly, but this is what they are stating, "It?s so obvious that this ordinance is solely aimed at college students that Matthews flat out said it. Her justification: only 8 percent of the bars and restaurants will be affected. In other words, the lawmakers have little to worry about. The casinos and restaurants will be minimally affected, if at all."

Thus, this would make this peice of legislation discriminating againts college students. What happened to everyone being equal? The council tells one group of people one thing while taking away this same privaledge against another.

 

[Crackle19]

Originally posted by: ntdz

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Crackle19
The East Baton Rouge Parish City Council will most probably vote tomorrow to ban drink specials in the area of East Baton Rouge after the time of 9:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Here are some articles on the ban:

I will be there to speak if they allow me. I want some opinions.

Bahahahahah the Republicans taking away more liberties in Louisiana Bahahahahaha

Where does it say that the City Council is made up of Republicans?

You can find the makeup of the Council-People here: http://brgov.com/dept/council/default.asp

Now, if you want to debate whether or not the CCCC is or not, go here: http://appl003.lsu.edu/cccc.nsf/index

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: Crackle19

Originally posted by: ntdz

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Crackle19
The East Baton Rouge Parish City Council will most probably vote tomorrow to ban drink specials in the area of East Baton Rouge after the time of 9:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Here are some articles on the ban:

I will be there to speak if they allow me. I want some opinions.

Bahahahahah the Republicans taking away more liberties in Louisiana Bahahahahaha

Where does it say that the City Council is made up of Republicans?

You can find the makeup of the Council-People here: http://brgov.com/dept/council/default.asp

Now, if you want to debate whether or not the CCCC is or not, go here: http://appl003.lsu.edu/cccc.nsf/index

Hahaha, it appears a majority of the council members are Democrats. Dave needs a ban, I know I'm not the only one sick of his ridiculous trolling.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Drink specials are now a "right"? While I think this is interfering with the true "right" of a business owner to conduct his business in his own manner. Trying to create an argument based on the "right" to have a drink special will only get your laughed right out of town hall.

Personally I would focus more on points where the govt interfering with private business has lead to decline in the business. Using torture in the same sentence as the "right" to a drink special will get you nowhere.

Hey OP, in terms of your being effective with the council I think Genx has a valid point.

How about getting some of the bar owners together with a lawyer and threaten action if council decides it has the authority to micro-manage their business in this way.

BTW: I thought most college students were 18, 19, 20, with only "seniors" being old enough to legally drink? Kinda dis-credits the whole discrimination against college students

 

[Crackle19]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: Genx87
Drink specials are now a "right"? While I think this is interfering with the true "right" of a business owner to conduct his business in his own manner. Trying to create an argument based on the "right" to have a drink special will only get your laughed right out of town hall.

Personally I would focus more on points where the govt interfering with private business has lead to decline in the business. Using torture in the same sentence as the "right" to a drink special will get you nowhere.

Hey OP, in terms of your being effective with the council I think Genx has a valid point.

How about getting some of the bar owners together with a lawyer and threaten action if council decides it has the authority to micro-manage their business in this way.

BTW: I thought most college students were 18, 19, 20, with only "seniors" being old enough to legally drink? Kinda dis-credits the whole discrimination against college students

I'm almost positive this will be challenged if it passes, so I will make the assumption that this is already happening concerning the bar owners and a lawsuit.

Here in Louisiana, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, college students, regardless of age, go out to the bars unlike anyplace in the nation in my opinion. Most people turn 21 either their Junior or Senior year, as well as students who go to graduate school. Soccer moms and business owners aren't at the bars in Baton Rouge past 7:00 p.m. and most of the "college student bars" don't open until 8:00 p.m. or so.

 

[Fern]

Well if you think a lawsuit is in the works already, I hope somebody tells the council.

Lawsuits are expensive, that'd be a big waste of the Parrish's money

 

[Crackle19]

Originally posted by: Fern
Well if you think a lawsuit is in the works already, I hope somebody tells the council.

Lawsuits are expensive, that'd be a big waste of the Parrish's money

I'll talk to the bar owners tommorrow and make sure, and if a lawsuit is in the makes, then I will bring it to the attention to the metro council, as this could be a factor in the decision because, like you said, it would probably cost the city some money.

 

[daniel49]

if you didn't drink so much, you could clearly form your own arguments😉

 

[ebaycj]

Crackle - don't worry, this happened in my college town when I was there (i'm 3 years out now). basically what happened is:

a. prices of drinks went down in general. (sure you don't get penny pitcher specials anymore, but you can get $3 pitchers all the time.. and you don't have to pay $6-7 a pitcher when they're not on special)

b. the bars made the "happy hour" specials (i.e. 2pm-7pm or whatever) into daily specials, and changed their 'retail prices' every day at the end of business. hence, you can make any special a 'retail price' (as long as you don't do it too often, computerized order systems work nicely for this). check your local (proposed) ordinance and see if it has any text referring to how often 'retail prices' can be changed.

c. the bars for the most part eliminated cover charge for ppl of legal drinking age (you only had to be 18 to get in, 21 to drink by law. in reality it was 18 to do both).




the bars actually ended up making more money by doing this, even though the really cheap "specials" were in effect for longer hours. And though the prices went up slightly (say 1.50 well drinks instead of $1.00), the specials were still really good compared to most college towns.



don't worry, seriously. if it is the culture at your college to drink, and bar owners stand to make money by selling alcohol, then by god someone will find some way of doing it legally (or at least quasi-legally enough that it is unenforceable).

 

[Crackle19]

Originally posted by: ebaycj
Crackle - don't worry, this happened in my college town when I was there (i'm 3 years out now). basically what happened is:

a. prices of drinks went down in general. (sure you don't get penny pitcher specials anymore, but you can get $3 pitchers all the time.. and you don't have to pay $6-7 a pitcher when they're not on special)

b. the bars made the "happy hour" specials (i.e. 2pm-7pm or whatever) into daily specials, and changed their 'retail prices' every day at the end of business. hence, you can make any special a 'retail price' (as long as you don't do it too often, computerized order systems work nicely for this). check your local (proposed) ordinance and see if it has any text referring to how often 'retail prices' can be changed.

c. the bars for the most part eliminated cover charge for ppl of legal drinking age (you only had to be 18 to get in, 21 to drink by law. in reality it was 18 to do both).




the bars actually ended up making more money by doing this, even though the really cheap "specials" were in effect for longer hours. And though the prices went up slightly (say 1.50 well drinks instead of $1.00), the specials were still really good compared to most college towns.



don't worry, seriously. if it is the culture at your college to drink, and bar owners stand to make money by selling alcohol, then by god someone will find some way of doing it legally (or at least quasi-legally enough that it is unenforceable).

Good to hear from someone like you. And if anyone thinks I'm doing this because I'm a big alcoholic: I'm barely 20 and not legally allowed to drink in bars. Although, Louisiana does allow me to legally drink in my own home.

 

[Svnla]

Get some casino boats move to your parish and you can get free drinks 24/7/365 😀

 

[Kappo]

If you try to play to the point that it is interferring with you or the public, you have lost. The businesses are the ones who are losing rights, not you. If you manage to convince them of anything, it will be the impairment of businesses right to offer things at the price they wish. Which then interferes with thier ability to operate thier business, not to mention the whole "price controlling" of liquor is just a bad business for them to be in. What stops them from saying "well, we are going to make the owners sell liquor for $800 per drink after 6pm"? They dont BAN it, but they sure make it unreasonable to go out and have a drink.

 

[Crackle19]

Drink Ban

1) Price Fixing - Illegal. Interferes with a business' right to offer product at whatever price they choose.
2) Lawsuit in Minneapolis (similar lawsuit) - Cost city lots of money.
3) Discrimination - Ban doesn't affect everyone, only those who frequent the bars post 8:00 p.m.

 

[dullard]

Let it happen, with creative pricing you'll still get your drink specials.

For example, the martini on rocks will still be $5. The unadvertized sex on the beach will be $2. These are regular prices (ie they are never on sale). The business person with a martini after work pays $5. The college student pays $2 (including after 9 pm). What's the problem?

Double these prices if you live in a big city with their rediculous alcohol prices.

To answer your question: a good argument would be that the law would be pointless and ineffective because creative pricing will circumvent that law and be 100% legal. And use my example as proof.