The issue here is underage drinking in downtown Providence. This week’s Providence Phoenix has a fine piece by David Scharfenberg about a renewed push by State Representative Joy Hearn (Democrat-Barrington) to bar those under the age of 21 from entering night clubs where liquor is sold. She is quoted as saying that “she wants a ‘safe city that encourages a good night life without having to rely on underage drinking to support that.'” Soooooo, how are things in that Great Experiment we call Barrington? What in the history of that famously dry, and notoriously soused, town suggests that bans accomplish anything? (Disclaimer: the sentiments expressed here are mine alone; fellow Doser and State Rep. David Segal can write his own piece some day when the weather isn’t so distracting.) Club owner, Rich Lupo, rightly complains,”‘I think that many clubs have proven that they’re able to run their establishments properly . . . Should all be punished because of the transgressions of the few?”‘ For all sides of this issue — including a very reasoned response from Mr. Segal and a picture of some cute girls in their party tanks — please check out Mr. Scharfenberg’s column.
One last thing I would like to highlight is the following paragraph with very promising news. This is a solution that properly addresses a huge part of the problem. Let’s give it a try.
. . . if cutting down on late-night rowdiness is the central concern, the most promising initiative may already be in the works. In the coming months, Providence officials hope to roll out a pilot program that would allow for staggered closing times at the clubs. The goal: preventing thousands of the young and wasted from spilling out onto the streets at the same time.
Every modern city ought to have a thriving, fun, interesting, diverse and safe nightlife experience. I’ve worked in the industry for close to ten years in New York City, Miami, Boston and Providence.
Providence, in fact and unfortunately for many other reasons besides current law, does have a “spilling out” problem. The streets are congested with vehicles AND people– typically more than several thousand individuals within a 3 by 6 block radius all at once.
Downtown Providence is by no means “dead” at 2AM. Tonight having been no exception.
This is a cause for many issues and concerns for other business owners, residents, passerby and public safety.
This is not to say that a modern city does not deserve a vibrant pedestrian experience throughout the day and evening hours. However, the current “spilling out” situation is often an interesting and sometimes scary situation indeed. Experienced club goer or not. Long time urban dweller or not.
However, with my experience working the Providence nightlife circuit over the years I have found that either leaving early or staying 15-30 minutes after closing allows me and my friends enough advantage time to avoid an otherwise questionable and often disruptive and intoxicated public.
Essentially we have created our own “staggered closing time” … and thus far its worked!
Rarely have we encountered any disturbances or chaos in the streets of Providence when leaving early or later. There just isn’t the same mass of people and vehicles trying to move all at once in the same direction and in a tiny area as if they were in a game of sliding puzzle.
Of course there are other issues related to the industry such as underage drinking. That problem will never be solved. Kids will find a way to drink if they want to.
There are also issues with the fact that every weekend we encourage and force club-going visitors into the streets and onto the roadways- oftentimes while they are still intoxicated, yet unbeknownst to the authority (police) who are literally directing the traffic. This often causes a number of drunk driving related accidents along our highways and in our neighboring cities and towns.
I know this because for years while working in Providence nightlife I also lived in South County and would pass as many as 3 to 5 accidents and vehicles pulled over within a 35 minute stretch of highway.
To solve this problem we need to build our infrastructure: sustainable professional metro-centered jobs, livable wage, affordable metro-living and a concrete transportation system. This would not only relieve our unemployment rates, it would bring people back to the city and keep them here. People would be walking and taking transportation from home to work to play and would reduce a bunch of drunk fools from driving the roads at night.
Night.
hmmm, don’t they check id’s at the door? Or are we referring to “18 to party, 21 to drink” policies? Seems if they are having problems with underage drinking at clubs, keep out the under 21 crowd. As usual, do we need to legislate common sense? Sadly, we probably do.
only in the smallest state would people consider providence nightlife to be rowdy, or that people are “spilling out” into the streets. downtown pvd is practically dead at 2 am, even with the inebriated prancing about . . .