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POLITICS & COMMUNITY

MANUELC: Here in Colombia those laws (where they have it) have been a good idea, because ... YES!, I know there are a lot of you who at 3:30 AM still drink and don't make any problems by doing so. But the majority of people start to make problems, and it's better to keep them controlled. And if you want to drink at late hours ... buy the liquour sooner.

Jimster: 24-hour drinking: as a student I love it.

PMoore: I'm a service member serving an overseas tour in Okinawa Japan. On base they have restrictions for buying alcohol at the shoppettes. After 2100 you are unable to purchase any form of alcohol regardless on 7 days a week. This is a result of there being too many "alcohol related incidents" on base. However, off base there are no restrictions for purchasing alcohol as long as you are 20 years old it's okay to buy booze anytime. My japanese friends think it's ridiculous that Americans aren't allowed to purchase booze after hours. Especially if the clubs still serve drinks up until the wee hours. It just doesn't make sense...

baydolph: I think they help, however, during the Olympics games all coutnries have liquor sales..... Italians drink wine at each meal as part of the culture for us Italians......

olive: Absolutely! People should be free to choose when they care to purchase alcohol. Regulating when people can buy it changes not when people will drink it. This (and most other regulations on individual freedoms) is regressive.

grovich: As much as I'd like to see government out of our lives as much as possible, there's no reason why people need to buy liquor after 2 or 3am...it can only lead to fatalities on the roads. If you can't feel good by that time of night, just go home to sleep! -chris. http://members.tripod.com/~grovich/

cracker: There are more unreasonable laws related to beer, wine and liquor than anything else. I think most of them are based on money and power. In PA you can't even buy a beer in a grocery store. At a drive thru beer retailer I tried to buy a 6 pack, but he was only licensed to sell by the case. How dumb can you get? How, when, and where you can buy spirits, I would guess has little correlation to problems related to alcohol. Law enforcement of DUI, public drunkeness and related laws is the way to reduce problems; not restricting how, when or where you can buy booze.

Adair: Restricting alcohol sales on Sunday is obviously a result of religious influence and is a practice that should end. In the eyes of the law, Sunday should be the same as any other day of the week.

As far as restricting sales to specific hours 7 days a week, I think it is yet another case of attempting to legislate morality. Will the streets suddenly be filled with drunks if people can buy a beer at 5:30am? No.

The real alcohol reform we need is for establishments to take some responsibility for making sure that their patrons get home safely. I don't think we need to legislate this, but a couple liability suits could force the issue.

Jeffo: Liquor laws are nothing more than one manifestation of the much larger issue; "Who decides best, the individual or the government?" As for me, I will trust many individuals each making the decisions that best serve their interests over government making a single decision for all individuals. So let the liquor flow.

tondeb: Why not - years ago when people went to the polls the candidates or their supporters were there with a bottle - a glass - or a dollar bill. The more often you voted, the more booze you got. I guess it's better to vote loaded than sober. At least when your loaded you do not necessarily recall who you voted for or have to decide which dummy you want. GO BOOZE

PeterKirn: Communities do have the right do enforce these kinds of laws restricting liquor. The question is whether they should. I have doubts about whether or not these make a serious impact. This country has major problems with alcoholism, alcohol poisoning among teens, and drunk driving. The solution is ultimately not going to come from a law. The problem is a social and cultural one, so the solution will be, too. We need to start working to help alcoholics, and teach kids young to be responsible about drinking. If people drank responsibly, it wouldn't matter what time of day they were drinking!

cyberqueer: Restrictive liquor laws are antiquated remnants of the prohibition ethic - there's no need for them.

JLaRue: We should have the freedom to choose when to booze.

niel: I live in Atlanta, and I am stunned and amazed at the lengths to which the city council will go to appease our guests, while ignoring the feeble protests of the few open-minded residents who think we are mature enough to know when it's OK to drink. Another example is that smoking rules are suspended during the Olympics in deference to our European guests. Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans, I say. There's a good rule being suspended for a few weeks, while the blue laws (a bad rule) are also suspended. The Atlanta government is a bunch of idiots.

wasptrap: Restrictive liquor laws are a remnant of our country's stupid Protestant heritage.

DEGE: No way should there be 24/7 access to the hard stuff. Alcohol is as addicting as crack or any other narcotic. We allow alcohol to be accessible like that, we are heading for trouble.

Sanderella: I do believe that the restrictive liquor laws are out of date with our current society. They reflect, like you say, a Protestant heritage. In Indiana, liquor/beer cannot be sold on Sundays. I disagree with this policy on the basis that not everyone in this country (or that state) is religious or adheres to a "Sunday" religion. In Wisconsin, liquor/beer cannot be sold after 9 p.m. Again, I disagree with this law. And lastly, I believe that our country should pass 19-year-old drinking legislation. In Wisconsin, we have been trying to get this legislation (that would allow 19-year-olds and older to buy liquor/beer) for years. On another note, I do believe that some restrictions are necessary. For instance, I would disagree with 24-hour liquor accessibility. I would agree with banning sales after 1 a.m. from liquor stores, but I think that sales from restaurants/pubs/bars and convenience stores should continue until 3 a.m.

unni: Pals!, U R complaining about resticted times. Here in U.A.E. you have to have a permit to buy booze!! Anyway it depends on ones taste when to booze. I do not have any idea why people need to booze at 0400hrs !.

PRossiter: I think that there should be no liquor sales, especially during the olympics.

JackM: I believe 24-hour liquor sales should be allowed at all times. The current laws are predicated on a 9-5 lifestyle. As you know, people are now working around the clock, within a variety of shifts. The current laws punish those who work evenings or non dayshifts, by denying them the same access the 9-5'ers take for granted. Also, we had a situation here in Alaska where Anchorage started to close the bars at 2:00A. The police chief at that time later became the chief at a smaller town an hour away. Some people in that town wanted to have their towns bars close earlier, as did Anchorage, so they solicited his support. Support which he withheld. He felt it was a mistake, as it put drinking drivers on the street at the same time. Thereby increasing risk of accidents, and hampering the police from doing their job as they were "outnumbered". With the more open hours, they could do their job more effectively. So, again I say, let a 24-hour option be available to those who want to do so.

DevilMan: Booze is cool. I like to drink at least 2 gallons of scotch before driving to or through the park at noon.

buttercups3: 24 hour sales are a mistake. Enough is enough.

jimdavis: Religion has no place in lawmaking. These "Blue Laws" are obvious remnants of catering to the right wing in the past.

drjuds: I think that the liquor laws are a remnant of the Temperance movement, but I also believe that if we were to repeal all of the liquor laws, chaos would erupt as idiots kill themselves with alcohol. We should adopt more libertarian liquor laws, so that if we choose to drink responsibly then it should be legal.

tpub: I think drinking establishments should be able to set their own hours. I live in an area where you may drive to a bar to drink but may not purchase packaged liquor to take home. Is my city government saying it is better to drink and drive than to imbibe in the privacy of your own home? I do not see a correlation between longer drinking hours and crime. Wouldn't it be better to have fewer cars on the road at different hours than the mad rush at 2 am?

GolfGizmo: If a society is going to legalize the sale of a drug, the vendor should be able to sell that product whenever he or she chooses. Intake of a substance is not predicated on time of purchase. I think selling booze is wrong. However, if we are going to tolerate it's distribution, we shouldn't try and waste tax dollars by policing it's time of day distribution. We don't do this for anything else; even guns. Over the counter prescription drugs are abused in a very large and dramatic way, and there is no limit as to when that kind of drug can be purchased. If peace is the goal of any society, it must first have justice. Limiting distribution of a legal product, is unjust to the vendor. Pretty crooked logic huh?

corvin: Liquor Laws are killing Expressionism. Since when should a bar's patrons be told "how" to dress and "what" to listen to? The Washington State Liquor Board is trying to take down Seattle's Industrial Scene.. Here's a Statement from the Catwalk WSLB's newest target..

The Washington State Liquor Board entered The Catwalk, a club located in Seattle's Pioneer Square District, and Used Charges of "Lewd Conduct" to suspend their liquor license for 30 days on an "emergency basis".

The liquor board reports that a man in the fashion show touched himself and simulated masturbation; a large woman was wearing leather; there were men walking about the club shirtless wearing nipple rings; and there was a private spanking room that the agent was barred from seeing (the agent actually stated that she felt "intimidated" and therefore could not enter the room). The Interesting thing about the LB's complaint is that there is no one to corroborate their story. With about 500 people watching, only the liquor board agent noticed this "simulated masturbation". Large women in leather ARE commonplace, although not illegal, and as far as shirtless men go, on any given day, you are going to see at least a couple in Pioneer Square.

The WSLB has a history of closing down "alternative lifestyle" bars in Seattle by fining them for obscure laws and violations that are overlooked in the "mainstream" clubs.

The story will continue to unfold as the Catwalk is taking it to court later this month.

Sunset: I feel we should be able to purchase any kind of booze to a certain extent, but as for Connecticut I feel it should be past 8. Rhode Island is 10 and we should at least be able to buy liquor till at least 10 or 11 here in Conn. Kim Harrington

wdriver: Restrictive liquor laws probably are a remnant of our country's religious heritage; that in itself should not negate such laws. Atlanta, let's be honest, is relaxing its laws not because the city feels they are outdated, but because the city fathers want to satisfy the demands of the Olympic community. They may well see dollar signs from the increased sales of alcoholic beverages, but the city will reap the harvest of increased alcohol related crimes and related unrest. But then, we are at present a society geared to making money in whatever manner and at whatever cost to the innocent.

fanzo: The better question is who will make the most money off of the drug (alcohol) during the olympics? The drug will be sold and the big question is who will make the most money? The government or the state of Alanta. Liquor laws only reflect the people in power's ablilty to make revenue for their own self interest. And they suggest that baseball should divorce itself from the tobacco company. Some people will use alcohol 24 hours+. The laws will have to catch up.

lue1: How can anyone forget to buy alcohol before the stores close. If you're too drunk to realize the time maybe you're to drunk to drive. A good high takes planning! you know the old saying you snooze, ya loose.

Gladman: Close Liquor stores at midnight. I don't think we want the crazies driving around any more than they do now. A midnight law will allow the late workers to pick up something on the way home.

Tracie: Yes, I think the laws are leftovers. There are too many people who do NOT understand that you cannot enforce your form of morality on the general public, which is what I feel that these laws are trying to do. (I live in the "Buckle of the Bible Belt" and here, stores are not allowed to be open on Sunday until after noon. Very Inconvenient!) I realize that alcohol is addictive and bad for you, but so are a lot of other things that you can buy seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day (except where blue-laws still reign.) I don't think closing the bars early keeps people under better control. People prone to get into that kind of trouble will just go home and finish drinking, then either pass out or go looking for trouble. As to why people want to be drinking at what you feel may be indecent hours, has it ever occured to some of you 9-to-5ers that some people don't get off work until 3 or 4 in the morning? Just in time for last call? You guys can go out and have a few drinks after work. Shouldn't they? Or would you rather they go TO work after having a few beers?

quartz: I think that it should be our own decision if we drink, if YOU get in an accident, its your fault, if you trip, its your fault, if you barf, its your fault....

OTIS: 90% of people that booze are losers. The other 10% are just plain ignorant. This world would be alot better place without liquor.

jjordan: The law is a great idea-if you want to drink at three in the morning, plan ahead. If you forget-GO TO BED, IT'S THREE IN THE MORNING!

reitnau: The government regulates our lives too much already. There is no reason that we should not be allowed to purchase liquor 24 hours a day. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

NeonRose: It's got to stop somewhere. Here in Ontario, Canada, most of the liquor & beer stores close at 6pm.. and some stay open until 9pm. We JUST passed legislation to allow drinking until 2am. As for the church being blamed for closing hours, don't be ridiculous.. I think it's more tradition then anything. It's something that we've been doing for yers, and just haven't been bothered to change.

Billzebub: Hell, yeah, we should be able to booze up whenever we want. Columbia, SC, where I live won't sell liquor after 7 unless you're in a drinking establishment. Hell, the 24 hour Walmart here closes at 12:00 on sunday mornings due to "blue laws" leftover from the Puritans.

Moneyman: You should be allowed to buy whatever you want at any hour of the day. The way it is now, people will still get liquor from bootleggers. You might as well let the legal sellers for liquor collect the profit and pay taxes on it.

chrisz: There's nothing wrong with allowing 24-hour liquor sales. The problem is overindulgence and its worst consequence - drunk driving. The real problem with drunk driving is that most Americans are dependent upon cars for transportation. If you live in Manhattan, Morgantown WV, or a few other places where public transportation is abundant, you can booze it up all you want and not have to worry about driving. However, most do not have this option.