Un-Happy Hours

[enthused]

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...0-d8916dd78036

CALGARY - The Alberta government announced Thursday it will introduce minimum drink prices, rein in last call and curb 'happy hour' across the province effective Aug. 1, in an attempt to crack down on drunken rowdiness in pubs and bars.

What do you think about these new restrictions, and do you think they will make a difference?

[troutman]

IIRC, violence was hoped to decrease in London when bars were allowed to set their own closing times. Trouble starts when people all spill out of the bars at the same time.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...1123/20051123/

The government hopes the change, which takes effect at midnight Wednesday in England and Wales, will stop the flood of drunks onto city streets just after the traditional 11 p.m. closing time. But opponents say British consumption of alcohol — the most notorious, although hardly the heaviest, in Europe — should not be encouraged.

The new rules allow pubs, bars, shops, restaurants and clubs to apply to open any hours they like, although each license must be approved by local authorities.

Supporters say the changes will end the scramble to guzzle as much booze as possible in the last minutes before closing time and so cut down on alcohol-fueled violence. They hope the new law will nudge Britons toward a Continental culture of gentle tippling rather than relentless chugging.

[Pagal4321]

Man, the government just ruined my summer.

[Locke]

Fascists.

[rubecube]

Brutal. Typical Conservative garbage.

[flip]

meh. Happy hour means nothing anyway the bars can just put stuff on special instead.

Plus when you look at those prices, unless you're going to the Cecil not sure who sells beer cheaper than $3 anyways. But I do agree with Troutman this whole last call BS needs to stop. Let places close when they want and there'll be less trouble.

EDIT: Upon rereading that last call BS I'm in a lot of trouble. I often order about 4 drinks right at last call. The only thing I don't get is it says you can't have more than 2 drinks with you after 1am. So what if I order 3 shots and 1230 and don't drink them until 130am. Are they going to take them away?

That being said does anyone think bars are going to actually follow this crap? Most bars don't follow the rule that there can be no more than 3 shots per person at a table. I've ordered 20 shots for like 3 people before and no one ever cares. I doubt the bars will care about these rules.

[RougeUnderoos]

There are places in town that sell pints for less than $3.20? Where? The Legion? I haven't bought a pint anywhere near that price in 10 years.

[Addick]

After coming back from another tour of duty in europe, I have to say that I believe we are going the wrong way with this. In numerous European cities I could drink on the streets and in a few countries there was no last call. Even though this means the culture of drinking is very visible over there they neither encourage binge drinking, nor do they make it taboo or an alluring privilege. I think we have to stop hiding our drinking habits and show how responsible drinking is a part of many of this country's cultures.

[metal_geek]

ROFL.. halarious....

Just another silly tax grab at best....
________
Motorcycle Tires

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Addick

After coming back from another tour of duty in europe, I have to say that I believe we are going the wrong way with this. In numerous European cities I could drink on the streets and in a few countries there was no last call. Even though this means the culture of drinking is very visible over there they neither encourage binge drinking, nor do they make it taboo or an alluring privilege. I think we have to stop hiding our drinking habits and show how responsible drinking is a part of many of this country's cultures.

I agree with you. At least that's the theory. Makes sense to me.

But just an aside to this point

The people who had told me this theory about European alcohol consumption always have some story like "Man, Europe was awesome. We got so wasted in Prague that I don't remember getting on the train. I remember waking up in Frankfurt with no shoes on and we went and bought a bottle of wine and drank it on the street then we met these chicks from Chicago who had a car and they drove us to Munchen for Oktoberfest and we got pissed with 20 thousand Germans in a big tent. But Europe is different though, they aren't so tightassed about drinking laws. They let you do what you want and they don't make a big deal out of booze, so people don't binge drink as much over there".

[Metro Gnome]

Won't make a lick of difference. Add a few more useless laws on the books.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by metal_geek

ROFL.. halarious....

Just another silly tax grab at best....

Okay I agree that this is a bunch of stupid rules, but how the hell is this a tax grab????????

[Maritime Q-Scout]

In Nova Scotia we can't sell alcohol for less than cost, but beyond that charge what you want. There are varying licenses for bars as well. Campus pubs close at 1:00 (I think halls and banquet centres might be the same), then the regular closing time is 2:00, and if you have a cabaret license you can close at 3:30. In Sydney there are only two bars with cabaret licenses, and in Halifax I can only think of three (Alehouse, Palace, and Dome, feel free to chime in anyone else to correct that).

It helps stagger when people get out of the bars, and it's fairly straight forward knowing what time a particular establishment is closing.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Okay I agree that this is a bunch of stupid rules, but how the hell is this a tax grab????????

When I'm drunk I like to grab, I'm sure this Tax fellow is the same way. I'm sure Tax is thinking "Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur, the whole club is looking at her *grab grab* she hit the floor *grab grab* next thing you know, shorty got low, low, low, low, low, low *grab* "

[enthused]

I fail to see how any of these new restrictions are going to eliminate over-drinking or drinking related violence. If anything they will probably increase the problems.

Look at it this way...

Implementing a minimum price wont stop people from drinking at bars. However if the prices do continue to climb, they'll pre-drink heavily, then show up to the bar already wasted, where they will continue to drink.

If there's a limit on how many drinks you can order at last call, people will be ordering more and more before last call. Just because they can't order more than two at last call, doesn't mean they wont be pounding them back until that point.

And curbing happy hours? Making them end at 8? Well then people will pound as many back as they can until 8!

No matter what, if people want to get drunk... they will. I can't see these new rules changing anything for the better.

[flip]

Not sure why anyone would be surprised by this though. Alberta is only about 5-10years removed from having windows on bars being illegal. We're pretty backwards when it comes to these types of laws.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

When I'm drunk I like to grab, I'm sure this Tax fellow is the same way. I'm sure Tax is thinking "Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur, the whole club is looking at her *grab grab* she hit the floor *grab grab* next thing you know, shorty got low, low, low, low, low, low *grab* "

lol, what?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

lol, what?

well I mean Tax is a person right? It can't possibly be government income as setting a minimum price is merely forcing drinking establishments to charge at least a certain dollar figure for each drink. The government is not directly collecting the difference, just putting more money into the bar owners hands.

Therefore the before mentioned Tax, must be a person who likes to grab either boobs or butts, I'm not quite sure.

[Cowboy89]

Am I mistaken or is "Last Call" now typically 2AM? So they reduce it by an hour and limit the number of drinks being bought and they also want to set minimum prices. Man somebody should take these bible thumpers to the woodshed. RubeCube is right Fascists!!! If only we could get conservatism without Jesus and pals. I'd vote for a party like that.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I agree with you. At least that's the theory. Makes sense to me.

But just an aside to this point

The people who had told me this theory about European alcohol consumption always have some story like "Man, Europe was awesome. We got so wasted in Prague that I don't remember getting on the train. I remember waking up in Frankfurt with no shoes on and we went and bought a bottle of wine and drank it on the street then we met these chicks from Chicago who had a car and they drove us to Munchen for Oktoberfest and we got pissed with 20 thousand Germans in a big tent. But Europe is different though, they aren't so tightassed about drinking laws. They let you do what you want and they don't make a big deal out of booze, so people don't binge drink as much over there".

one thing they are tough on, is drinking and driving. ZERO tolerance.
the passenger can be sitting there, having a beer, no issue. but the driver, no alcohol period!!.
personally, I like that approach.
Being from Germany, I recall going into the neighbourhood pub with my dad as a kid. No, I couldnt drink alcohol, but I could have a pop while my dad had a beer. They should allow the same kinda thing here.