2008 Woodie Awards
Downtown lowdown
Citywide ordinance banning cup night, drink specials after 11 p.m. took effect Jan. 1
by Rachel Heiderscheidt
Issue date: 1/15/08
Section: Local and State News
Last year at this time, students over 21 had the option of catching up late with college friends downtown over cup night or two-for-ones. This year, however, things are going to be a little different.
As of January 1, the new city council ordinance for all liquor-licensed establishments went into effect.
The ordinance covers a wide array of issues ranging from licensing to employee training. The most controversial topic, however, is in regard to drink specials.
Basically, any cup, dollar drinks, two-for-one and "Ladies Night" specials - among others - will no longer be permitted.
As listed on the city council website, these changes include:
• special pricing on drinks may only be offered between the hours of noon and 11 p.m.
• standardized drink servings and limited sale of discounted pitchers
• written policy prohibiting any consumption of alcohol during work hours for those working in a position involving customer contact (servers, bartenders, manager, security staff)
• Limits the sales of alcohol to no less than 50 percent of normal price to discourage irresponsible drinking
The ordinance, which was approved Nov. 26 as the result of an 11-month liquor moratorium, has received mixed reactions from bar owners and students alike.
"I think they're going too far, but what can you do? I feel like we're living in communist Russia," said Devin Gasswint, owner of South Street Saloon.
Gasswint said he never threw any of the "all you can drink" specials the city has eliminated, but feels businesses should be allowed to make decisions without government interference.
"You shouldn't be able to tell me, a private business what to do," Gasswint said.
According to city councilman Mike Laven, however, they can do just that.
"The city grants businesses permission to pour alcohol," Laven said. "So the idea that we're ruining the free market is thrown out the window."
Laven said the moratorium and ordinance alike are the result of numerous disturbances - ranging from the serving of minors to noise complaints - in the downtown area of Mankato.
He said that during an 18-month study, the city determined which type of businesses were visited the most by police and for which type of offense.
"Underage calls and disturbances are not called from a place such as TGI Fridays," Laven said. "That's just not the case."
He said there is a direct correlation between the amount of alcohol served and the number of times police have been called to the business.
For this reason, the city council decided to no longer grant licensure to businesses that would only qualify for a class B (bar) license. They also added a new class - RB (restaurant bar) - to be added to the already existing classes of B and R (restaurant).
"The more food that is sold, the more likely the council is to approve the license," Laven explained.
Although Laven said these changes came as a result of irresponsible behavior by both businesses and individuals, he admits personal responsibility - or lack thereof - is the ultimate cause of disturbances downtown.
"People who want to drink all they can drink…no amount of legislation can stop that," Laven said.
Despite all its efforts to reduce irresponsible behavior, some worry the new law may only make things worse.
"There's no way of monitoring if someone is intoxicated at a house party," said Dan Guimont, owner of Boomtown.
Guimont added that before the ordinance, the problem was at least contained to a two-block area, whereas now police may be getting calls for house party disturbances all over town.
He also said the problem isn't the result of specials.
"I'm running all the specials they [downtown bars] do and I don't have any problems," he said. Guimont is referring to Ladies Night and cup specials, and said he has never received a complaint or had any calls for anything other than noise disturbances.
"My general feel on the whole thing is it wasn't necessary. Why didn't they just solve the problem at those few places instead of dragging all liquor license holders into this mess?" Guimont said.
Tom Frederick, owner of Pub 500 agrees.
"What's really unfortunate is a broad-brush approach was needed to address a few issues, but something needed to be done," Frederick said.
He and his sister Gwen have owned Pub 500 since 2003.
"In general, it's a hard thing when government has to step in and tell businesses how to run their business," he said. "That's never going to be a smooth transition."
Although Guimont and Frederick disagree with the way in which the city council is changing the rules for liquor licensed establishments for what they claim is the behavior of a few, both agreed some changes did need to be made.
"Some of what they did is good as far as staff training," Guimont said, referring to the following requirement:
"Within 30 days of hiring, all servers/sellers must provide documentation that they have attended and passed an approved Responsible Server Training program. Employees must attend training every year. Upon license renewal, documentation must be provided showing that all employees have had training and are current."
Guimont also conceded that cup nights were detrimental to businesses and patrons alike.
"You're just pushing people to drink all they can in two hours, and that's never a good thing," he said.
Laven also echoed this statement, "We've asked them [bar owners] to stop blatantly trying to get people outrageously drunk."
Even so, Guimont said he wishes the problem could have been fixed by dealing with the three or four places causing the problems.
"Since the moratorium hit the papers, our business has died," he said.
Specifically, he said his sales are down 30 percent, while his liquor distributors have told him sales are up 25 to 30 percent at their liquor stores.
"If our [sales] are down, that makes sense," he said. "People are just going to the liquor store and drinking at home instead."
In order to make the transition smoother, the city council wrote into the new ordinance a program to encourage good behavior on behalf of the business owners.
"We actually reward the businesses that are doing it right," Laven said.
He is referring to the Gold Star program, which is optional for bar owners to participate in. It requires businesses to go above and beyond what is required in areas such as training and policy. Businesses that choose to participate are not fined for their first violation and are not punished if they serve a minor for the first time.
According to the city council website, "Liquor licensees who achieve and maintain responsible vendor status are eligible for reduced sanctions, and may avoid losing their license if their employees sell to a minor. Additionally, the outlet's servers may attend regularly scheduled, city-provided Alcohol Server training at no cost."
With as much community and university effort going toward this issue, it will be interesting to see the results, if any, that occur this semester and those to follow.
Rachel Heiderscheidt is the Reporter news editor
As of January 1, the new city council ordinance for all liquor-licensed establishments went into effect.
The ordinance covers a wide array of issues ranging from licensing to employee training. The most controversial topic, however, is in regard to drink specials.
Basically, any cup, dollar drinks, two-for-one and "Ladies Night" specials - among others - will no longer be permitted.
As listed on the city council website, these changes include:
• special pricing on drinks may only be offered between the hours of noon and 11 p.m.
• standardized drink servings and limited sale of discounted pitchers
• written policy prohibiting any consumption of alcohol during work hours for those working in a position involving customer contact (servers, bartenders, manager, security staff)
• Limits the sales of alcohol to no less than 50 percent of normal price to discourage irresponsible drinking
The ordinance, which was approved Nov. 26 as the result of an 11-month liquor moratorium, has received mixed reactions from bar owners and students alike.
"I think they're going too far, but what can you do? I feel like we're living in communist Russia," said Devin Gasswint, owner of South Street Saloon.
Gasswint said he never threw any of the "all you can drink" specials the city has eliminated, but feels businesses should be allowed to make decisions without government interference.
"You shouldn't be able to tell me, a private business what to do," Gasswint said.
According to city councilman Mike Laven, however, they can do just that.
"The city grants businesses permission to pour alcohol," Laven said. "So the idea that we're ruining the free market is thrown out the window."
Laven said the moratorium and ordinance alike are the result of numerous disturbances - ranging from the serving of minors to noise complaints - in the downtown area of Mankato.
He said that during an 18-month study, the city determined which type of businesses were visited the most by police and for which type of offense.
"Underage calls and disturbances are not called from a place such as TGI Fridays," Laven said. "That's just not the case."
He said there is a direct correlation between the amount of alcohol served and the number of times police have been called to the business.
For this reason, the city council decided to no longer grant licensure to businesses that would only qualify for a class B (bar) license. They also added a new class - RB (restaurant bar) - to be added to the already existing classes of B and R (restaurant).
"The more food that is sold, the more likely the council is to approve the license," Laven explained.
Although Laven said these changes came as a result of irresponsible behavior by both businesses and individuals, he admits personal responsibility - or lack thereof - is the ultimate cause of disturbances downtown.
"People who want to drink all they can drink…no amount of legislation can stop that," Laven said.
Despite all its efforts to reduce irresponsible behavior, some worry the new law may only make things worse.
"There's no way of monitoring if someone is intoxicated at a house party," said Dan Guimont, owner of Boomtown.
Guimont added that before the ordinance, the problem was at least contained to a two-block area, whereas now police may be getting calls for house party disturbances all over town.
He also said the problem isn't the result of specials.
"I'm running all the specials they [downtown bars] do and I don't have any problems," he said. Guimont is referring to Ladies Night and cup specials, and said he has never received a complaint or had any calls for anything other than noise disturbances.
"My general feel on the whole thing is it wasn't necessary. Why didn't they just solve the problem at those few places instead of dragging all liquor license holders into this mess?" Guimont said.
Tom Frederick, owner of Pub 500 agrees.
"What's really unfortunate is a broad-brush approach was needed to address a few issues, but something needed to be done," Frederick said.
He and his sister Gwen have owned Pub 500 since 2003.
"In general, it's a hard thing when government has to step in and tell businesses how to run their business," he said. "That's never going to be a smooth transition."
Although Guimont and Frederick disagree with the way in which the city council is changing the rules for liquor licensed establishments for what they claim is the behavior of a few, both agreed some changes did need to be made.
"Some of what they did is good as far as staff training," Guimont said, referring to the following requirement:
"Within 30 days of hiring, all servers/sellers must provide documentation that they have attended and passed an approved Responsible Server Training program. Employees must attend training every year. Upon license renewal, documentation must be provided showing that all employees have had training and are current."
Guimont also conceded that cup nights were detrimental to businesses and patrons alike.
"You're just pushing people to drink all they can in two hours, and that's never a good thing," he said.
Laven also echoed this statement, "We've asked them [bar owners] to stop blatantly trying to get people outrageously drunk."
Even so, Guimont said he wishes the problem could have been fixed by dealing with the three or four places causing the problems.
"Since the moratorium hit the papers, our business has died," he said.
Specifically, he said his sales are down 30 percent, while his liquor distributors have told him sales are up 25 to 30 percent at their liquor stores.
"If our [sales] are down, that makes sense," he said. "People are just going to the liquor store and drinking at home instead."
In order to make the transition smoother, the city council wrote into the new ordinance a program to encourage good behavior on behalf of the business owners.
"We actually reward the businesses that are doing it right," Laven said.
He is referring to the Gold Star program, which is optional for bar owners to participate in. It requires businesses to go above and beyond what is required in areas such as training and policy. Businesses that choose to participate are not fined for their first violation and are not punished if they serve a minor for the first time.
According to the city council website, "Liquor licensees who achieve and maintain responsible vendor status are eligible for reduced sanctions, and may avoid losing their license if their employees sell to a minor. Additionally, the outlet's servers may attend regularly scheduled, city-provided Alcohol Server training at no cost."
With as much community and university effort going toward this issue, it will be interesting to see the results, if any, that occur this semester and those to follow.
Rachel Heiderscheidt is the Reporter news editor
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Gina Macleod
posted 1/15/08 @ 10:07 AM CST
ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I am (2003) alum to MN State. I made my own decisions as a 21 year old. No one EVER forced me do drink, consume outrageous amounts of beverages! I did that on my own. (Continued…)
Post a Comment