[This is prompted by a report I saw on the local news, this morning]
During COVID, I drove to a local seafood restaurant to pick up a to-go order (remember — many public places back then were shut down). I was astounded when I saw a sign in front offering “COCKTAILS TO GO.”
Whaaaaaaaat?
I could order a margarita on the rocks, a shot of Jack Daniels, and a Rum Runner and get them served in cups…..TO GO?
That shocked me. I’d never really thought about it before, but nowhere in the country was TAKE OUT allowed for hard liquor. Back when living on the East Coast, I remember “package stores,” where bars could sell six packs and the contents had to be bagged up. But taking out hard liquor was strictly illegal. New Orleans has some quirky liquor laws where open containers are allowed in public, and the same goes for tourist zones on the Las Vegas Strip (like downtown). But I’d never heard of pulling into a restaurant and ordering a highball to go.
Turns out, restaurants were desperate back then. It was all about survival. So, our local government temporarily permitted take-out for liquor. All of this made sense.
Fast forward to now.
I just saw a news report that the first licenses for *cocktail take out* have been approved in Las Vegas. So, people can order their food and get a few drinks to go. Reportedly, FOOD must be served when LIQUOR is ordered, and there’s some ratio — 50/50 by law, I believe. So, if you order $30 of food, you can’t spend more than $30 in liquor (someone correct me if I’m wrong–the TV news report was vague).
I must confess as someone who enjoys an occasional cocktail, I’m not at all happy about this. Our society has made drinking while driving a very taboo thing. And that’s good. The streets are dangerous enough with phone use, prescription drug addictions, legal marijuana, and lots of really lousy drivers. Sticking a plastic cup with booze in it into the hand of someone probably texting while driving isn’t exactly safe (or sane) public policy. Full Confession: While I’ve certainly drank and driven before (most people know this), I do believe in legal restrictions on alcohol use and the enforcement of open container laws.
One can make a solid argument that even if someone buys a couple of cocktails and consumes them in the car while driving home, the negative impacts typically aren’t felt until sometime later — maybe a half hour, or longer. So, it’s not really much of a risk to wolf down the hot burger and slam down a few cold beers behind the wheel of the car, as inebriation takes time. Then again, if you’re stuck in traffic and the commute takes longer, those cocktails might be tempting — so there’s indeed a higher risk when people start drinking, while driving.
I should also point out that critics said the legalization of recreational marijuana in Las Vegas (and elsewhere) would make the streets more dangerous. The OPPOSITE has occurred. Turns out the demographic that drinks tends to also use marijuana, and once that was legalized, DRINKING DECLINED. So, the number of DUI and DWI cases also declined, and the streets were, in fact, safer. Studies on this continue. We’re only about a decade into the experiment. Still, early indications are — marijuana legalization has proven to be an overwhelmingly positive change.
What puzzles me most is — why would bars and restaurants want this new permissive law on alcohol sales. Don’t they want patrons to stay inside, order more food, tip the staff, and likely order another drink? Seems liquor take-out could HURT the bottom line. But, they know better. One more point: It’s FAR more dangerous for patrons to drink in bars and restaurants, and later get behind the wheel. Previously, I discussed the delayed effects of alcohol. Drink three shots of tequila while driving and arrive home in 15 minutes, and you probably won’t start feeling the liquor until arriving at home. But if you slam three shots of tequila at the bar, and then leave the joint 45 minutes later, you might be intoxicated. (*see footnote below)
Hence, the new liquor policy may be a good thing. It could prevent some accidents and save a few lives, or it might backfire with others. Both outcomes, though seemingly contradictory, might be true.
I’ll close by saying the national outcry against drinking and driving is generally a very positive social and cultural awareness that has undoubtedly saved many lives. But allowing liquor take-out, even in a city with as much permissiveness as Las Vegas, sends the wrong message. I lean against this change in liquor laws, but could be persuaded otherwise.
We’ll see what happens.
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* Laws of unintended consequences: This is one reason why DRY counties (they ban all liquor sales) in many parts of America is terrible public policy. Drinkers who are forced to drive to bars and other places with alcohol, then must inevitably DRIVE home — in many cases long drives, often late at night — they become dangerous. They fall asleep. They kill people. DRY counties might be one of the most self-defeating and dangerous laws on vice in existence.