Quebec bar owners, apparently miffed that they can only stay open until 3am, are proposing a change in the law that would allow them to stay open until 6am, serving non-alcoholic drinks and allowing people to detox before heading home. They expertly play the drunk-driving card to try and get public support on their side.
It sounds fantastic at first glance, but knowing how desperately bar owners depend on alcohol sales to stay afloat, I’m asking myself why they would want to stay open three hours later, incurring more expenses, but gaining no further revenue through their cash cow.
I think the immediate benefit from bars due to this legislation is that while it would prohibit selling alcohol after 3am, it would not stop the drinking of alcohol. So instead of packing it in and stumbling home as the chairs are put on the tables, “last call” would be the cue to buy a few more pitchers to get around the law.
But that’s just me being paranoid. I’m sure bar owners care about their customers’ well-being much more than the bottom line.
Of course they do, that’s why they we’re against the smoking ban, because they cared about the customers…
I think this is a great idea. As a musician who has played many bars, I have been there and seen it happen when a bunch of drunk people are all tossed out into the street at 3 am. Fights ensue well over 75% of the time. Allowing people to hangout and party but only be allowed to drink water or juice would definitely help reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road.
I’d like to see the gov. call their bluff and suggest they stop serving alcohol at 2AM and close at 3AM.