Does Late-Night Booze Mean Safer Streets?

Crime, Politics, Safety

Imagine you are out with friends, having a terrific time, when the bartender informs you that it’s last call. It’s not even midnight, and you aren’t ready to go home, but the law in your state requires bars to close early. You may wonder what the point is. Isn’t it better to keep people in the bars and clubs as late as possible so they’re off the streets?

Since Prohibition was repealed, states have individually decided how liquor is controlled, and some liquor laws are set by a county or township—such as is the case with “dry” areas where liquor is not sold anywhere, including restaurants. Many places don’t allow liquor to be sold on Sundays or, like Washington State until recently, only allow state-run liquor stores to sell hard alcohol. Strict laws regarding where and when alcohol can be sold may seem draconian when you just want to relax with a margarita, and may seem outdated, especially if you are used to more liberal policies and bars open until dawn. However, experts say there is a direct correlation between crime and alcohol, and it is making many states re-think their more liberal liquor laws.

The Politics of Liquor Laws

Liquor laws are a tricky thing, especially when lawmakers want to tighten them up. People like their booze, and when existing freedoms (the freedom to dance until at least 2 a.m. in a club serving vodka, for example) are curtailed, people get cranky, which creates a problem come reelection time. Lawmakers walk a fine line between public safety, which decreases as alcohol availability increases, and protecting people’s right to party.

In Washington State, where hard alcohol was until recently only available in state-run liquor stores, an initiative passed allowing hard alcohol to be sold in grocery and other stores of 10,000 square feet or more. The new law is a boon for large grocery chains and a lot more convenient for Washingtonians who no longer have to make an extra stop to pick up their fifth of Jack Daniels. The law was upheld by the Washington Supreme Court in a five to four vote after a lawsuit challenged its constitutionality. However, even the judges with the majority opinion admitted that increased alcohol availability means increased risk to public safety.

The Statistics

Studies show a clear connection between liquor and crime. A survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice shows that nearly 4 out of 10 violent crimes involves alcohol. The same percentage of motor vehicle accidents involve alcohol, as well. Two-thirds of violent crime committed against a romantic partner were alcohol-related, and the number jumps to 75 percent for spousal abuse. The statistics show a drop of nearly half a million DUI arrests between 1996 when the statistics were gathered and 1983, when 33 states had a drinking age of less than 21.

Alcohol, Crime, and the Media

A study published in February by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs indicates that most people don’t realize the correlation between alcohol and violent crime because the news media tends not to report the contributing factor of alcohol when covering crime and fatal accident stories. The fact is that an estimated one-third of deaths from accidents and violent crime involve alcohol. A survey of 789 adults showed that people were much more likely to support stricter alcohol policies and laws when they were informed just how often drinking leads to crime, crashes, and other accidents. Public support of stricter liquor laws is not only crucial to getting them passed, but for compliance, as well.

Closing Time

In many cities, an effort is underway to reduce violent crime by either making bars close earlier or by staggering closing times to reduce the number of drunkards out roaming the streets at one time. Nightclubs seem to be a particular problem, such as the incident where a U.S. Army veteran was fatally shot in Boston’s Theater District. Lawmakers argue that, either by forcing clubs to close by 1 a.m., or having them turn off music, televisions, and other entertainment at 1 a.m., the risks of alcohol-related violence will decrease.