Liberty's Blog

Drunks at Bars

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commision's (TABC) campaign against drunks at bars is receiving lots of critisim. And they seem surprised, and they don't like it. The Dallas Morning News (registered site) reports.

Public intoxication busts of bar patrons by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission elicited a blast of indignant – even vicious – e-mails and calls from citizens Friday – to the agency, to journalists, and to elected officials who pledged to look into the arrests.

"I'm getting all those same e-mails, the Nazi, Taliban, Gestapo e-mails," said commission spokeswoman Carolyn Beck. "I don't really understand the hateful outrage. I don't understand, 'Die in a fire.' "

That e-mail traffic came after news reports about a stepped-up liquor-law enforcement program that has included arrests this month of patrons sitting drinking at establishments in Irving. Among those arrested was an Arkansas man who drank several beers at a hotel restaurant before he retired for the night to his room in the same hotel.

The fact that Carolyn Beck doesn't understand the outrage, suggest that she really should find another job. She is totally clueless about the people she is suposed to be serving. She is not alone in being without a clue. John Whitmire is concerned about what the drunks 'might' do.

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, was instrumental in getting the increased staffing, as a member of both the powerful Senate Finance Committee and the Criminal Justice Committee, which oversees the alcohol commission.

Although he agreed hearings are merited, he defended the principle of in-bar citations.

"Even though a public drunk is not planning on driving, that could change in an instant," he said. "There is certainly potential danger."

Mr. Whitmire said lawmakers should examine whether the agency, which is funded by fees it collects, is motivated to stricter enforcement by fiscal concerns.

As Glenn Reynolds aptly replies.

Even though a Senator is not planning on taking bribes from the underage-goat-sex lobby, that could change in an instant. Best we lock them all up now.

Convention and hospitality interest are very concerned.

Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he's gotten calls from hundreds of people concerned about the crackdown. Two groups — one with almost 25,000 people and another of several thousand — have said they're not considering Dallas as a convention site because of the stepped-up bar surveillance, he said.

"This seems designed to be a setback ... for new tourism and expanded conventions," said Douglas Harman, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau. He said that so far, his bureau has had few calls about the crackdown.

Bob Lander, president and CEO of Austin Convention and Visitors bureau, said they've gotten several calls from people who want to know what's going on.

Jones said that it's not just meeting planners who are concerned, but individuals don't want to risk getting arrested.

"Someone who might have one drink or two drinks, they're afraid that they can't drink at all if they come to Texas," Jones said.

If anyone would like to let your State Rep and/or Senator You can find how to contact them by entering your address at www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm. Complaints about the agency's enforcement of the law can be directed either to lawmakers or to the commission, at complaints@tabc.state.tx.us, and let them know what you think.

posted by Liberty @ 8:53 AM