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View Full Listing  Link to Article Not Everyone Loves Ellensburg’s Late Night Scene Ellensburg, WA — At night, Ellensburg’s thriving retail community becomes a vibrant center of nightlife, characterized by huge revenue yet increasingly worrisome public disorder. Under the food service/drinking places fund created in 2008, nightlife has contributed $354,000 in sales tax revenue to the local economy; however, some residents are vocal about fighting disorder impacts, such as vomit on the sidewalks, littered cigarette butts, public urination, noise violations and vandalism. Venue owners state that hospitality stakeholders have already taken proactive initiative, and that ten years ago, these problems were much more prevalent. In any case, the city is currently working to mitigate disorder issues and facilitate cooperation between stakeholders. Chelsea Krotzer, Daily Record News http://www.kvnews.com 6/6/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Toronto’s Entertainment District BIA Invites ’Nightlife Experts’ from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco to Responsible Hospitality Institute Conference Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Seeking to transform the nighttime economy while managing safety, the Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area (BIA) will host the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) Conference on Nightlife and the conference’s contingent of nightlife experts from cities across the country. Along with successful strategies from other cities, the BIA will continue to focus on stakeholder collaboration within Toronto and will host representatives from the Police Service, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (Liquor Enforcement Branch) and the city council, among others. "Toronto continues to be recognized around the world as one of the safest, most diverse places to live," said Toronto Mayor David Miller. "I am confident that with leaders like the Entertainment District BIA and its collaborative approach to managing nightlife, Toronto will maintain its international reputation as a progressive, world-class city with an incredible quality of life." Canadian Business http://www.canadianbusiness.com 6/4/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Anoka Council OKs Higher Fee for Late-closing Bars Anoka, MN — Seeking to fund late night police overtime while not driving hospitality venues out of business, the Anoka City Council increased the fee for bars wishing to stay open until 2 a.m. — but only to a maximum of $500, not the proposed $5000. Anoka’s bars already pay a basic liquor license fee of about $5,000 each, which covers much of the cost of extra police patrols that totaled $37,000 last year for the entertainment district. Only two bars this past year have paid the $300 fee to stay open past 1 a.m. Jim Adams jadams@startribune.com, The Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com 6/2/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Santa Rosa’s Bar Owners Target Troublemakers Santa Rosa, CA — Confronted by increasing pressure to prevent public disorder, local bar owners in Santa Rosa plan to cooperate on finding common solutions. "I think it’s in everyone’s best interests,” said Gianni Messmer, owner of the local Round Robin. "All the bars are competing against each other, but we’re all trying to do the same thing, and that’s make money." Messmer has contemplated some kind of alliance for months; ideally, nightlife businesses will jointly adopt rules governing behavior in their establishments, he says. Meanwhile, the Santa Rosa Main Street Association is working separately with the Responsible Hospitality Institute to stimulate the city’s night-time economy by organizing all 57 businesses with alcohol licenses. The pressure from police, according to Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Rich Celli, comes from an increase in violent assaults over the past six months, including several "significant assaults" behind a row of bars and restaurants on Fourth Street. Mary Callahan mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com, The Press Democrat http://www.pressdemocrat.com 5/31/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Bar Tax Aims to Fund Programs Edmonton, Alberta, Canada — To fund a new local hospitality association’s $250,000 annual tab, the City of Edmonton has recommended a license surcharge of $280. The association would deal with industry issues such as security, responsible drinking and safety programs, transportation, industry perception and advocacy. Bars and hotels have voiced unhappiness with the extra surcharge; "To have something that’s going to be mandatory citywide, that everybody has to participate in, when by and large they’re not involved ... just to me seems unfair," said Dave Kaiser, president of the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association. The association is part of the mandate of Responsible Hospitality Edmonton, an association of hospitality, community and regulatory stakeholders formed to help manage the city’s hospitality zones. Gordon Kent, The Edmonton Journal http://www.edmontonjournal.com 5/29/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Extended Liquor Sales Proposed Once More Aurora, IL — Business owner Dan Hites and the Aurora Downtown group have collaborated on a new development plan, soon to be presented to the City Council, to revitalize Aurora’s nighttime economy through an entertainment district. The proposal, which involves designating the district’s boundaries and extending liquor licenses to 4 a.m., was conceived a decade earlier but wilted under community opposition. Other aspects of the plan include establishing a cultural arts center downtown and providing rebates on taxes for the first five new entertainment establishments in the district. Andre Salles asalles@scn1.com, The Fox Valley Villages Sun http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com 5/27/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Delray Beach Showcases ’Nighttime Economy’ in Regional Forum Delray Beach, FL — Delray’s vibrant nightlife and thriving nighttime economy make it a perfect case study for "The Nighttime Economy," a regional forum hosted by the Responsible Hospitality Institute. The forum focused on sharing innovating strategies to tackle urban challenges among cities and stakeholders, within the context of the greater nighttime economy. "Delray is in the forefront in that it recognized the value of an active evening lifestyle and it revitalized its downtown district with a nighttime economy - restaurants, bars," said Jim Peters, president of RHI. "If a city wants to be competitive, especially in a down economy, then having a nighttime economy is going to distinguish one city from the next." Maria Herrera, South Florida Sun Sentinel http://www.sun-sentinel.com 5/27/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Front-line Hospitality Indianapolis, IN — On his first day of work, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Safety Patrolman Mark Campbell demonstrated the community aspect of enforcement. With an audience of 300,000 NASCAR and Indy 500 fans eager to watch the race, Campbell’s customer service and conflict resolution skills are put to the test to seat crowds and mitigate complaints. "Years ago, we probably were looked at as a policing agency," said Campbell, "but we’re really more in the hospitality department. We want everyone to have a good time, but we want it to be a safe time, too." Tim Ethridge ethridget@courierpress.com, Evansville Courier & Press http://www.courierpress.com 5/24/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article How Will It Change Nightlife? Bars and Clubs Could Assume New Personas After N.C.’s Smoking Ban Takes Effect Winston-Salem, NC — As of January 2, 2010, smoking will be banned in all North Carolina restaurants and bars, a distinct break with the state’s long and lucrative ties to the tobacco industry. Opponents of the ban claim it’s elitist, because the only two establishments exempted are cigar bars, which must get a certain amount of their revenue from the sale of cigars, and country clubs. State Representative Hugh Holliman, D-Davidson, said that he and other supporters had to include the exemptions in order to get the bill passed. "I would have preferred to make everybody non-smoking," Holliman said. "In the legislature, you have to compromise." North Carolina is the first major tobacco-producing state to pass such a restrictive ban on smoking; Virginia allows smoking in separately vented rooms of bars and restaurants. Laura Giovanelli, The Winston-Salem Journal http://www2.journalnow.com 5/24/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Web Site Sparks Creative Ideas for City’s Vacant Lots Baltimore, MD — In an innovative attempt to seek community input and generate fresh ideas for urban development, the City of Baltimore has launched a new website to spark conversation about unused urban space. Baltimore’s Office of Promotion & The Arts put up the Baltimore Infill Survey, a Flickr page inundated with ideas from artists, architects and others who have creative ideas about how to make the space useful, productive and green. "The idea for this has been percolating for years," said Gary Kachadourian, Visual Arts Coordinator for the Promotion & The Arts office. "If you live in Baltimore, or drive through, you might think, ‘What should we be doing,’ or ‘What interesting things could happen?’ This is a way to look at this as a positive instead of a negative." Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun http://www.baltimoresun.com 5/24/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Recession Turns Malls Into Ghost Towns Charlotte, NC — Shopping malls, iconic American suburban retail and hospitality complexes that hail from the 1950s, are struggling heavily in the recession. Alleged "dead malls", debilitated by anemic sales and rising vacancy rates may top 100 by the end of the year. "Any mall that’s sitting on life support is probably going to get its plug pulled" as the economy falls, said Michael Glimcher, chairman and CEO of Glimcher Realty Trust, which owns 23 U.S. properties, including Eastland Mall in Charlotte. Kris Hudson, The Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com 5/22/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Downtown Nightlife Boom Ignites a Gold Rush San Antonio, TX — South San Antonio is experiencing a revival in its nighttime economy, and at the heart are a series of new nightlife venues on 17th Street. Young patrons now seek out nightlife, hospitality and live music in the new thriving nightspots. "The city had two problems," said Albert Gonzalez, owner of one of the new venues. "These old cantinas and prostitutes on the south side and nightclubs near neighborhoods on the north side." A group called Heart of the City has been attempting to fix both problems by igniting a downtown revival in South Antonio, moving nightlife south to decrease community dissatisfaction and increase vibrancy in the district. Zach Quaintance zquaintance@themonitor.com, The Monitor http://www.themonitor.com 5/21/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Dayton Wins $1 Million State Cleanup Grant to Develop Entertainment District Dayton, OH — Dayton has been awarded a $1,004,430 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant for environmental cleanup activities at the site of the Monument Avenue Gateway project. According to the state Development Department, the city plans to raze the site and prepare it for future redevelopment opportunities within the proposed Ballpark District Riverfront Development, which would become a new mixed-use urban entertainment district. William Hershey, Dayton Daily News http://www.daytondailynews.com 5/18/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Taxpayers Could End Up Footing Arena Payments Glendale, AZ — Bold visions to transform farm fields into a sports and entertainment district in Glendale took a shock last month as the resident hockey franchise filed for bankruptcy. The city, which surprised the Valley by constructing the arena to spark upscale development and transform its image into an entertainment and sports heavyweight, may have to appropriate taxpayer funds to meet arena debt. Mayor Elaine Scruggs and City Manager Ed Beasley declined specific comment because the Coyotes’ bankruptcy case is still in court. Carrie Watters, The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com 5/17/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Reborn Lincoln Theatre Ready to Rise Columbus, OH — The 80-year-old Lincoln Theater has undergone a $13.5 million transformation from an urban eyesore into a vibrant venue in the city’s King-Lincoln hospitality zone. Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman started pushing for redevelopment in 2002 as part of a comprehensive plan to revitalize the district. The Lincoln Theater, which opened in 1928 as the Ogden Theatre and Ballroom, will serve as a performance venue, the home for several dance companies, and the base for the Jazz Arts Group. Brian Ball, Business First of Columbus http://columbus.bizjournals.com 5/15/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Struggling Restaurants Tap Into Md. Night Life Maryland — Several restaurants in Prince George and Montgomery counties have turned to unorthodox practices to thrive in the economic downturn: they have enacted cover charges to enter their establishments and added live bands, karaoke nights and pool tables. "In this economy, people are trying to be creative," said Kathie Durbin, chief of licensure, regulation and education for the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control. The restaurants will be completely in line with regulation as long as they serve food, Durbin said, adding that the Board will perform routine checks to ensure that restaurants take in no more than half their revenue from alcohol sales. Some residents are asking for more oversight, claiming that a handful of restaurants have essentially turned themselves into nightclubs. “We have to find a better way of managing them,” said Phil Lee, president of the Kettering Civic Federation. The Liquor Control Board plans to hold public hearings in the coming weeks to discuss the operations of several restaurants that operate in similar ways as bars. Ovetta Wiggins, The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com 5/15/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Downtown Beat to Embrace Locals Calgary, Alberta, Canada — Community policing measures will soon take effect in Calgary, commencing with the deployment of 62 constables for downtown foot patrol. “(The downtown will see) a safer entertainment district, highly visible presence of officers downtown that people can connect with and officers working face to face with the community,” said Police Chief Rick Hanson. Two priorities of the new policing plan, other than developing relationships with business owners and residents, are higher visibility and ’reassurance policing’ to prevent crime, said Hanson. Amy Gregson, Metro Calgary http://www.metronews.ca/calgary 5/14/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Taxis Help You Tour Downtown Nightlife Toledo, OH — Over 60 taxis are expected to converge on downtown Toledo for "Taxis Gone Wild," part of the city’s new bid to restore interest in the hospitality zone. The event, which starts at 7 p.m., is expected to raise awareness about local taxi options, according to Megan Stockburger, tourism development manager for Destination Toledo Inc. The taxis will shuttle residents between more than 15 participating locations offering appetizer and drink specials. The Blade http://toledoblade.com 5/14/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Restaurateurs Fear Alcohol, Guns Would Be a Lethal Tennessee Mix Memphis, TN — New legislation is poised to pass through the Tennessee state legislature allowing people with handgun-carry permits to bring firearms into restaurants — as long as they do not drink. Local hospitality leaders, such as Danny Sumrall, a Tennessee Hospitality and Lodging Board member and the former president of the Memphis Restaurant Association, worry about the potentially fatal combination of guns and booze. "I guess we have to wait for someone to shoot someone before legislators change their minds," Small said. Ryan Poe, Knox News http://www.knoxnews.com 5/14/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Green Legacy Buffalo, NY — The Buffalo Green Hospitality Initiative, formed in 2007 by Buffalo’s hospitality organizations, seeks to promote green travel experiences in Western New York and to develop and maintain environmentally responsible practices throughout the region. Members will plant 56 trees in downtown Buffalo and along Delaware Avenue as part of a state-of-the-art tree planting program. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown vowed to "offset the negative carbon footprint" from the Solar 2009 National Conference in Buffalo. Doug Sitler, Buffalo Rising http://www.buffalorising.com 5/13/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Parliamentary Committee: Live Music Policing ’Authoritarian’ London, UK — The United Kingdom Culture, Media and Sport Committee recommends abolishing the controversial policing system for live music events (established in the 2003 Licensing Act) and has urged the government to exempt small venues from license requirements for live music. The committee found the process of applying for said licenses to be costly and time-consuming, and concluded that small venues were deterred from applying. One key sentence of the report stated that "in the Committee’s view, music should not automatically be treated as a disruptive activity, which will inevitably lead to nuisance and disorder." Andre Paine, Billboard http://www.billboard.biz 5/13/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Biological Markers Used to Detect Drug Use in Club Settings - Clubs Vary Widely in Drug User Prevalence at Entrance and Exit A new study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation entitled, “Biological Markers of Drug Use in the Club Setting,” has found that few individuals initiate drugs use in clubs for electronic music dance events (EMDEs), among other findings. After discovering that EMDEs attract drug users, and that individuals are usually using drugs before entering the club, the researchers found that the percentage of drug users who were intoxicated nearly doubled during club stay. Another key finding of the study was that personal characteristics do not identify drug users, suggesting that environmental strategies should be taken to ensure club safety. The next step for the research team is to work directly with owners, managers, and staff to determine if environment strategies can be implemented. The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation http://www.pire.org 5/11/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Merchants, City Encouraging Downtown Nightlife Lufkin, TX — Nightlife revitalization starts with dining and entertainment; Lufkin’s First Street is no different, and local merchants and city officials have initiated a newly concentrated effort to kick-start their hospitality zone. One element is the newly launched "Friday Night Live" series by the First Street Arts Center, which has become a gathering spot for young professionals, musicians and artists. Additionally, stakeholder collaboration has increased in the form of the Downtown Merchant’s Committee (DMC), a monthly meeting of store owners that come together to work on projects. "You could literally start at First Street Arts Center at 6 pm and hop down the street from place to place hearing live music, eating and drinking until midnight," said Tracy Pinkerton, vice president of the DMC. Steven Alford jalford@coxnews.com, The Lufkin Daily News http://www.lufkindailynews.com 5/10/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article On the Town in Milwaukee: How Diverse is Your Nightlife? Milwaukee, WI — In a city where nightlife is often segregated, for whatever reason, by race, age or socioeconomic status, McBob’s Bar and Grill in Washington Heights serves a crowd as diverse as one can find in the city. Although there exist other anomalies, like Hi-Hat, Eastsider, Good Life, Zen Den and Decibel, McBob’s serves as a beacon of diverse and vibrant nightlife in Milwaukee. Maureen Post maureen@staff.onmilwaukee.com, Milwaukee’s Daily Magazine http://onmilwaukee.com 5/9/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article ’Edgartown’ Could be $35 million Entertainment District at Fort Pierce’s Fisherman’s Wharf Fort Pierce, FL — A massive development plan been proposed in Fort Pierce to revitalize the city’s nighttime economy: a $35 million transformation of the Fisherman’s Wharf area into an entertainment district called Edgarton, conceptually similar to The Landing in Jacksonville and Ybor City in Tampa. Harold “Buzz” Smyth, former mayoral candidate and owner of Mother Tucker’s Sand Bar & Grill, supports the proposal, which would require cooperation from the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency and nearby property owners. Edgartown would include a 120-room flagship hotel, condominiums, restaurants, shops, nightclubs, a specialty grocery store and a historic village, and would boast the ability to host outdoor concerts and fishing tournaments; it would also generate roughly 2,700 jobs, according to Smyth. Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency Director Jon Ward expressed skepticism about whether this project will in fact be developed, however. Alexi Howk, The Treasure Coast Palm http://www.tcpalm.com 5/8/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Supporting the City That Never Sleeps New York City, NY — Known for fighting City Hall to protect nightlife business owners and club-goers for over a decade, the New York Nightlife Association (NYNA) has formed a sub-committee to collaborate with City Hall to generate jobs, tax revenues and tourism. This bold partnership, dubbed the Nightlife Preservation Community (NPC) seeks to promote and manage nightlife for the purpose of keeping New York City vibrant and prosperous. Attempting to form a marketing partnership on par with Las Vegas, the NPC will seek to rebrand "The Big Apple" as "The City That Never Sleeps." To support an urban grass-roots campaign, the NPC will create a website and initiate a cooperative effort with the police department and community groups to distribute information about political, safety and hospitality issues. Steve Lewis, The BlackBook http://www.blackbookmag.com 5/8/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Aberdeen Turns Down Requests for Rezoning Aberdeen, North Carolina — The Aberdeen Board of Commissioners has voted to deny a rezoning request for land near the busy 15-501 concurrency. Developer Pinetrace LLC had asked the town to rezone five properties as a mixed-use district, but Board members were concerned that the developers would construct apartment complexes on the property. "There’s nothing wrong with apartments, it’s just that we have enough already in Aberdeen," said Mayor Betsy Mofield. Planning Director Kathy Liles also cited serious traffic concerns as a reason for denial. Laura Eddy, The Pilot http://www.thepilot.com 5/7/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Downtown Entertainment District Proposed Toledo, OH — A new development proposal to City Council seeks to boost bar and restaurant businesses around Toledo’s new arena by creating a nine-block entertainment district downtown. Planners hope that the district will improve the business climate around the arena, which is still under construction, by sparking investment in currently vacant commercial space. Under the proposal, ten new liquor permits will be granted in the district. Rob Wiercinski rwiercinski@wtol.com, WTOL Channel 11 News http://www.wtol.com 5/6/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Gentlemen’s Clubs Receive OK for Liquor Dothan, AL — The City Council has approved liquor licenses for two gentlemen’s clubs in the city; one was approved without discussion, but the other stirred controversy over its central downtown location. Downtown business owners are concerned that the gentlemen’s club may deter people from visiting other nearby businesses. “We have invested considerable time and money,” local business owner Janet Everett told commissioners, adding that she and other recently relocated entrepreneurs are trying to revitalize downtown as a family-oriented location. Mayor Pat Thomas said that he understands her concerns, but that "the only thing before us is a liquor license. We can’t say what it can be or can’t be.” Debbie Ingram dingram@dothaneagle.com, The Dothan Eagle http://www.dothaneagle.com 5/6/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article ‘London Dirtiest City - But Nightlife Tops’ London, United Kingdom — A new poll has named London the dirtiest city in Europe for the second year running, yet it was also voted the city with the best nightlife. The poll, carried out by the company TripAdvisor and taken by thousands of travelers, also concluded that London is perceived as the most expensive city on the continent, having the most tourist traps and the worst-dressed locals. On the flip side, London was found to have the best free attractions and public parks. Sky News http://news.sky.com/ 5/4/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Entertainment Tax On Hold Roanoake Rapids, NC — City leaders have asked state representatives to delay North Carolina’s new entertainment tax bill until the new owners of the Carolina Crossroads outdoor amphitheater can get their business off the ground. The bill would allow the city to levy an entertainment tax on every admission ticket sold, with a maximum $3 tax on tickets that are at least $5 when more than 5,000 tickets are available. Mayor Drewery Beale has stated that the bill should be put on hold until Atlantic One Entertainment LLC can generate substantial business at their new venue. Lance Martin, The Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald http://www.rrdailyherald.com 5/4/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Council to Consider Rezone for West Colfax Avenue Lakewood, CO — The City Council is considering an ordinance to rezone properties along West Colfax Avenue, in an effort to encourage the development of a mixed-use hospitality zone. The district will allow a diverse mix of commercial and residential uses and will encourage pedestrian-friendly building design. "The purpose is to create a sense of vibrancy on Colfax Avenue," said Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy. "We understand that changes are going to occur with light rail coming ... what we are doing is putting all the tools in place to make sure we are ready when those changes and that investment comes... you can’t have that vibrant, active street if you don’t have people living and working there." Erin Freese, YourHub.com http://denver.yourhub.com 5/4/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Bouncers To Help Police In Fight Against Nightlife Violence Geelong, Victoria, Australia — Nightclub crowd controllers in Geelong plan to work more closely with the police department to reduce violence and threats to crowd controllers, as well as to streamline the process of follow-up investigations. Police officers may now receive packages of evidence from crowd controllers, such as testimonies and closed-circuit television footage, according to acting Sergeant David Campbell. Additionally, the city’s new Tick of Approval accreditation process for nightclubs includes a new code of conduct for crowd controllers to sign, placing them on a public register requiring them to wear green fluorescent shirts. "It’s a definite advantage, the relationship between clubs and police here, and the high profile police have walking the streets," said Cory Stein, a veteran crowd controller in Geelong. Danny Lannen, The Geelong Advertiser http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au 4/29/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Young Drinkers Keep Clubs In Business Toronto, Ontario, Canada — In the midst of global recession and economic crisis, Toronto’s bar and club businesses seem to be thriving as well as ever. Nick Di Donato, president of the Liberty Entertainment Group, attributes this in part to the younger clientele at most nightclubs, who are just starting their careers and have not been as affected by the recession. He and other nightlife veterans in the city have also remarked upon the recession-proof characteristics of liquor sales: "I’ve gone through a couple of recessions and I’ve always found it doesn’t have a real impact on the bar, nightclub or casual bar scene," Di Donato said. Raju Mudhar, The Star http://www.thestar.com 4/28/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Power & Light District Wins Award from Urban Land Institute Kansas City, MO — The Kansas City Power & Light District, a seven-block entertainment district, has received the Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute, an international organization dedicated to promoting excellence in development. The Power & Light District, developed and owned by the Cordish Company, is one of 10 North American projects honored this year. Despite the fact that much space remains to be leased and the district has not met financial expectations, Marilee A. Utter, the chairwoman of the institute’s jury, said that jurors who visited the district considered it a strong model for cities wanting to revitalize declining downtowns. Kevin Collison, The Kansas City Star http://www.kansascity.com 4/27/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article City Block Downtown Bar Complex Closes Louisville, KY — City Block, a downtown entertainment venue that featured four bars under one roof, has closed after 18 years of operation. The owners have cited competition with 4th Street Live, the entertainment district developed by the Cordish Company, as their main reason for folding the business. The district is located two blocks away and has received millions in government subsidies and tax breaks. "We don’t think the city’s favoritism of Cordish is the whole problem," said Ward Plauche, one of City Block’s owners. "The economy is bad and that’s a direct problem. The smoking ban is a direct problem. But we would have survived if we didn’t have to fight the … monster down there." Dan Klepal dklepal@courier-journal.com, The Courier-Journal http://www.courier-journal.com 4/25/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Bogotá Proposes 24-hour Nightlife Bogotá, Colombia — Bars and clubs in certain parts of Bogotá may soon boast 24-hour operation. The proposal comes from Clara Lopez, the Secretary of the Mayor’s Office who previously led efforts to regulate venues that illegally stayed open past the city’s 3am mandated closing time. "It’s one thing to allow all 49,500 businesses to stay open 24 hours and it’s another to have 10 or 15 places with a special license," Lopez said. Her proposal will have to be taken to congress and enacted into law in order for the special licenses to be granted. Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com 4/24/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Adult Playdates Growing In Popularity An alternative ‘nightlife’ scene featuring cocktails and board games is growing in popularity among adult professionals ages 25 to 55. PlayDate, a monthly social event held in twenty cities including Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Chicago, offers a laid-back environment where adults can connect over childhood board games, where the music isn’t too loud and the lights aren’t too dim. PlayDate creates an atmosphere particularly inviting for women because it is "not confrontational and there is very little to lose," said University of Pennsylvania sociology professor David Grazian, who studies urban nightlife. CBS 6 http://www.wtvr.com/ 4/23/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Minor League Ballpark, Mixed-use Complex Planned Near Trinity River in Dallas Dallas, TX — A real estate and sports group have announced plans to build a $500 million mixed-use project on a 60-acre development site they have recently acquired on the banks of the Trinity River. The project will be a mixed-use entertainment district with a minor league baseball park, and is set to open to the public by next year. The new owners also envision a water park and hotel, 2,500 apartments, retail, restaurants and a pedestrian bridge to connect the project to the nearby rail station. They plan to use private funding, though financing for most of the development has yet to be arranged. Steve Brown stevebrown@dallasnews.com, The Dallas Morning News http://www.dallasnews.com 4/23/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article UNLV Study: Smoking Ban Hasn’t Hurt Bar Business Clark County, NV — Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus have found that Clark County’s smoking ban has had no discernible effect on bar business. The law, adopted by voters in November of 2006, bans smoking in restaurants, child care operations and bars that serve food, though not casinos. MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com 4/22/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article 2009 Nightclub Fire Sprinklers Requirements Seattle, WA — The 2007 Washington State Legislature has changed the legal definition of nightclubs that require retroactive installation of fire sprinklers, and extended the deadline for compliance to December 1, 2009. The wording broadens the sprinkler requirement to apply to nightclubs, restaurants, taverns and bars in which "the aggregate area of concentrated use space that is specifically designated and primarily used for dancing or viewing performers exceeds three hundred fifty square feet." The City of Seattle http://www.seattle.gov 4/21/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article City Hall Mulls Over Liquor Law Changes St. Joseph, MO — The City Council has proposed an ordinance to restrict the sale of alcohol by caterers within 300 feet of residential areas, exempting businesses in the Downtown Entertainment District. Local caterers like Nathan Karr worry about the effect on liquor sales. Additionally, Karr runs a wine booth at a local summer event, and has interpreted the ordinance as permitting the sale of beer, but disallowing the wine he wants to sell. Sam Barber, the city director of customer service, said that city staff will review the ordinance and ensure that it applies fairly to all businesses. Clinton Thomas, St. Joe News http://www.stjoenews.net 4/21/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Norfolk Nightsafe Enlists Help From Registered Door Supervisors Norfolk, England — Norfolk Nightsafe, a multi-agency partnership seeking to enhance nighttime economies across England, has received extra momentum with the launch of a program to enlist help from Door Supervisors registered with the Security Industry Authority. Norfolk boasts about 400 Door Supervisors, according to Nightsafe Co-ordinator, Chief Inspector Gavin Tempest. "In the last five years Door Supervisors have become vital to the partnership approach to public safety," said Tempest. "The police and staff inside venues now work together to prevent flare ups where innocent people are likely to get hurt... this is the ‘Nightsafe’ philosophy." Nightsafe is a national program of approaches for creating safe late-night entertainment. SecurityPark.net http://www.securitypark.co.uk 4/20/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Plan to Allow Bars to Serve Until 4 a.m. Strikes Nerve Lansing, MI — Michigan’s House Democrats plan to introduce a bill in May that will allow the sale of special licensing permits, allowing bars to serve alcohol until 4 am. Some state officials predict an extra $4.6 million in revenue if the bill passes; Governor Jennifer Granholm pushed for extended hours in her proposed 2009-10 budget, which was unveiled earlier this year. "This is an opportunity for communities to enhance entertainment district options by providing late-night bars and providing businesses an opportunity to increase profits through expanded hours, said Granholm spokeswoman Megan Brown. However, opposition is already rising. "Not in Lansing. Not on my watch," said Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. "Sounds like desperation economic development, desperation tactics." Christine Rook clrook@lsj.com, The Lansing State Journal http://www.lansingstatejournal.com 4/19/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article New Restaurants, Bars Energize Flint, MI Flint, MI — A new hospitality venue in Flint is sparking a bona-fide revival in the nighttime economy. Blackstone’s Bar & Grill restaurant is bringing increased foot and automobile traffic to the area, where business owners are hopeful that patronage will continue to increase. "We want downtown Flint to be, like, “Let’s park our car and go to six different spots,” said Rondey Ott, a local nightclub owner. "Hopefully they come there to get their good food and drinks, and then they come over here to dance and have a good time afterwards." Matt Franklin, ABC TV 12 http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/index 4/17/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Buses for Late-night Partiers Eyed Edmonton, AB, Canada — Responsible Hospitality Edmonton, an organization that seeks safer hospitality zones in the city, reported that two bus loops have been proposed to carry home drunken revelers after a night of partying in order to reduce public disorder. The loops, which would be serviced by Edmonton Transit buses, may soon see a 10-week trial. Late-night transportation "is one of our biggest issues," said Cindy Davies, spokesman for RHE. Alyssa Noel, The Edmonton Sun http://www.edmontonsun.com 4/17/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Austin Police Chief, Downtown Business Owners Support Camera System Austin, TX — Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, supported by the city council, is looking to add high-tech patrols to downtown Austin in the form of surveillance cameras. Chief Acevedo recently talked with business owners in the Downtown Austin Alliance about the city’s plan to add a system of cameras that will monitor high crime spots; most business owners, so far, support the endeavor, though some have mixed feelings. Downtown Austin is one of the safest areas in the city, according to police, though aggravated assaults have gone up 35 percent this year, none of which have been caught on camera. The first of the cameras are expected by late 2010, and the city is asking Congress for an additional $800,000 to cover the expenses. Jesica Vess, KVUE TV http://www.kvue.com 4/16/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Dress Code Rules For Power & Light District Pass Unanimously Kansas City, MO — Following weeks of debate and civil outcry, the City Council finally agreed on a set of dress code rules for businesses in the new Power & Light entertainment zone. The council ruled unanimously on the ordinance, which was less stringent than originally proposed. Specifically, it states that businesses in taxpayer-subsidized developments are not allowed to utilize dress codes to arbitrarily deny potential patrons. The ordinance also rescinded the ban on certain types of clothing, such as large necklaces worn by males, which were previously prohibited by the Power & Light District developer, the Cordish Company. Additionally, the Council decreed that establishments can prohibit saggy clothing, but that dress codes must be enforced uniformly and without discrimination. Lynn Horsley, The Kansas City Star http://www.kansascity.com 4/15/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Hosemann Picks the Best of Legislature Mississippi — Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann congratulated Mississippi’s legislative efforts to increase the state’s hospitality to businesses. One measure in particular allows communities to create an entertainment district via a majority vote in the governing board. It would not apply to casinos and the like, but would allow accelerated depreciation deduction on income tax for businesses that open an entertainment venue. Hoseman lauded other legislation with similar purposes, including easier corporation filings and stronger trademark laws. Michael Newsom mmnewsom@sunherald.com, The Sun Herald http://www.sunherald.com 4/15/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Some Ellensburg Residents Complain About Nightlife Ellensburg, WA — At a recent special session of the city council, Downtown Association Executive Director Timothy Bishop told council members that residents are experiencing severe nightlife issues, including vandalism, noise, public urination and explicit sexual behavior on their back doorsteps. The council is currently working to draft good neighbor contracts for business owners. The Seatle Post-Intelligencer http://www.seattlepi.com 4/15/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Liquor License Bill Stirs Controversy Pocatello, ID — Controversy over a senate bill regarding liquor licenses is heating up hospitality debates in Idaho. The bill, Senate Bill 1148, caps the number of bars in Idaho while strengthening laws against underage drinking, and was expected to have the support of bar owners and anti-drinking groups; however, opponents claim that the bill is misdirected and too lenient in certain areas. For example, Mothers Against Drunk Driving opposes the bill, claiming it loosens laws for serving drinks to people who are visibly intoxicated and does little or nothing to stiffen the penalties for establishments who serve alcohol to minors. The bill would also transfer the authority to issue a liquor license from the state to local governments, based on the idea that local governments understand the needs of the local community best. Proponents include Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase, who says that the bill "balances out for the guys that already have liquor licenses but in the end it does help out with economic growth in the community." Bill Kotowski bkotowski@kpvi.com, KPVI NEWS 6 http://www.kpvi.com 4/14/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Distillery District Gains Internet Popularity as Developer Looks for Infrastructure Funding Lexington, KY — The Lexington Distillery District is the most popular national project vying for government stimulus funding, according to users on StimulusWatch.org. Created by independent developers to let citizens vote on proposed stimulus project proposals, StimulusWatch allows users to choose "yes" or "no" on each proposal and records a net positive or negative score for each. As of Monday, April 13, the vote ratio for the $15 million public improvements proposed for Lexington’s Distillery District was 1,140, the highest of all the stimulus projects nationwide. The plans include revitalization of blighted properties near downtown along Manchester as a mixed-use arts and entertainment district. Susan Baniak, Smiley Pete Publishing http://www.bizlex.com 4/14/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Boulder City Council Considers Sweeping Changes To Liquor rules Boulder, CO — Elected officials in Boulder are considering a drastic upgrade to the city’s alcohol regulations to prevent alcohol abuse in the city. The Council plans to hold a study session in follow up to a resolution passed after the alcohol-poisoning death of a University of Colorado student five years ago. The resolution promised a review of zoning codes, licensing policies and enforcement practices. As part of their follow-up, the Council is considering many courses of action, including more speakers at liquor board hearings and restoring a rule that would ban liquor licenses within 500 feet of the CU campus. "Few people know how serious Boulder’s alcohol problems are," said Lisa Spalding, who serves on the city’s Beverages Licensing Authority. "The city spent over $3.3 million to address alcohol issues in 2008." Ryan Morgan, The Colorado Daily http://www.coloradodaily.com 4/11/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Renaissance Rock Island Announce District Hospitality Venues Working Together Rock Island, IL - Downtown hospitality venues are collaborating on a long-overdue joint promotion, according to a Renaissance Rock Island press release. Eight venues are working together for the Spring Pub Crawl, to be held downtown on Friday, April 24 from 7 to 11 p.m. The Pub Crawl is one piece of a larger nighttime economy revitalization plan, and is a direct result of the city’s Responsible Hospitality Plan and related discussions. Quad-Cities Online http://www.qconline.com 4/10/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Portland Mayor: Memorial Coliseum Must Go Portland, OR — Portland Mayor Sam Adams announced that in order to redevelop the Rose Quarter into a thriving hospitality zone and regional attraction, the Memorial Coliseum must be torn down and a baseball stadium built in its place. In response to criticism about the plan’s sustainability, Adams said that the new district would be built according to today’s standards for sustainability, possibly making the Rose Quarter into the "most sustainable entertainment district in the United States." Adams spoke alongside the Cordish Company, which hopes to co-develop a hospitality zone called “Live!” — a district concept that the Cordish Company has used in other cities. The “Live! District” would be a regional destination with retail and restaurants to attract visitors to the Rose Quarter not only during Blazers and Beavers games, but throughout the day and night. Sam Bennett sam.bennett@djcoregon.com, The Daily Journal of Commerce http://www.djcoregon.com 4/9/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Council OKs Downtown Tax-free Zone Baton Rouge, LA — The Metro Council approved a proposal to remove sales taxes on original artworks sold in part of the downtown arts and entertainment district with a final vote of 10 to 2. Some council members were wary of the proposal, saying that it could give an unfair advantage to artists based in certain districts. However, according to Downtown Development Director Davis Rhorer, any district can apply to become a state cultural district and receive the exemption. Gaye Hamilton, the coordinator of the state cultural district program, said 39 cultural districts have been designated since the program’s inception last year. Scott Dyer sdyer@theadvocate.com, The Advocate http://www.2theadvocate.com 4/9/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article New Accrington Nightclub to Revive Town’s Nightlife Accrington, Lancashire, UK — In an effort to revitalize their nighttime economy, especially the traditional Sunday nightlife, Accrington has welcomed the new Level One Nightclub and its strict dress code. Seeking to attract an upscale clientele, the club denies anyone wearing branded clothing, boasts the capacity for 250 people and has a state-of-the-art LED flashing dance floor. A number of other bars have agreed to open late on Sundays during a six-week trial to see if they can bring the public back into town. Nafeesa Shan n.shan@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk, The Lancashire Telegraph http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk 4/9/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Middleton’s Adult-zone Plan Rattles West Peabody Middleton, MA — West Peabody residents are organizing in opposition to a set of plans that would create adult-entertainment districts in the town, which has never had an adult business. The plans — one of which details a district just over the town line in Middleton, another which plans one behind the Candlelite Motor Inn on the other end of town — will both be discussed at the next Planning Board meeting. But according to Christine Lindberg, a Middleton selectman and Planning Board member, if Middleton were to designate an adult entertainment district, the rest of the town would be officially off-limits to all other adult businesses. "We’re not trying to attract adult entertainment in Middleton," Lindberg said. "We’re trying to protect [Middleton] as so many of the 351 Massachusetts cities and towns have done." Mike Stucka, The Gloucester Daily Times http://www.gloucestertimes.com 4/7/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Sonoma State University Alumni Offer An Online Resource To Local Nightlife Sonoma, CA — Local entrepreneurs have successfully married the social networking revolution with hospitality via Barspace.tv, a new website geared toward college students and their nightlife escapades. Designed by two Sonoma State University alumni who graduated last spring, it offers instant live camera access to the most popular clubs and bars in Petaluma, Cotati and Santa Rosa, a calendar of events, menus, vouchers for discounts on admission and drinks, and a text message system that can update users on activity at a selected venue. The site also offers the ability to send messages between patrons, striking similar to social network powerhouses MySpace and Facebook. Janee Wafer, The Sonoma State Star http://media.www.sonomastatestar.com 4/7/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Wilton Manors Hopes To Curb Nighttime Jaywalking Wilton Manors, FL — Seeking to prevent nighttime crashes involving pedestrians in the Wilton Manors entertainment district, local police are commencing an enforcement and awareness operation. According to police spokesman Seargant Chuck Howard, police will pass out pamphlets to local businesses and enforce jaywalking with citations; the city also installed electronic signals at both ends of Wilton Drive. ’’We addressed the traffic problem itself,’’ Howard said. "In addition to that, we had the speed limit lowered and now we’re addressing the problem from a pedestrian standpoint.’’ The operation comes after four pedestrians were injured and one killed on Wilton Drive within the past year. David Smiley dsmiley@MiamiHerald.com, The Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com 4/7/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article MySpace to Let Users Rate Local Businesses Online social-networking giant MySpace has partnered with Citysearch on its new site, MySpace Local, to allow members to review local dining and nightlife businesses, such as bars and restaurants. MySpace is seeking to capitalize on the popularity of peer reviews and the vast pool of available users in order to expand into a portal for in-person social activity. Associated Press, The Akron Beacon Journal http://www.ohio.com 4/6/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article The End of the Line Toronto, ON — City Council member Denzil Minnan-Wong has declared his intention to cut late-night bus service because the vehicles are empty; meanwhile, those who rely on late-night Toronto Transit Commission buses claim it is a vital, popular service heavily utilized by students, workers and club patrons. Minnan-Wong proposed an end to the service during the city’s budget debate, a move he says would save the city $21-million; the move was defeated, but Minnan-Wong says he will keep pushing. Local cook Gerrit Kolijn said the plan to scale back service is an insult to bus riders, often the poorest workers in the city. "They’re bending to the will of the upper class. They don’t care about the people who clean Toronto and who feed Toronto and who help keep the city moving," he said. Dave McGinn, The Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com 4/4/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Consortium Offers Unique Nightlife Experience Shreveport, LA — The Consortium Venue, a north Shreveport entertainment locale with upscale decor, open dance floor, dining options and regular live music has become wildly popular with adults seeking a comprehensive, music-centric alternative to the hip hop club scene. It’s the latest of many places outside downtown Shreveport that offer dining and live music, which has experienced a veritable renaissance in the city as of late. Club owner Monica Hall said she named the place "Consortium" to indicate the theme of the place: "it means individuals, groups, companies and organizations coming together to participate in a common activity," Hall said. Donecia Pea doneciapea@gannett.com, The Shreveport Times http://www.shreveporttimes.com/ 4/3/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Wellington Police District Crime Statistics Wellington, New Zealand — The Wellington Police District has released area crime statistics for the previous calendar year. According to the statistics, there was a 9.1 percent rise in recorded crime in 2008 overall. Wellington Police District Commander Pieri Munro stated that "ensuring the greater Wellington region is a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and visit continues to be a high priority" for the department. He added that the "rise in total crime was disappointing in many respects as the five Areas worked hard to use Intelligence to help catch offenders, prevent and detect crime." On the positive side, he noted that police were making some progress on their goal to reduce alcohol-related violence. Scoop Independent News http://www.scoop.co.nz 4/1/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Youth Rights Group Aims to Overturn West Palm Beach’s Downtown Curfew West Palm Beach, FL — The South Florida chapter of the National Youth Rights Association, a youth advocacy group, is seeking to overturn West Palm Beach’s downtown curfew. They have tapped Boca Raton activist and lawyer Barry Silver to fight the curfew ordinance, which was enacted about 20 months ago to keep minors under adult surveillance or at home late at night. Silver claims that the ordinance is unconstitutionally vague and deprives youths of civil rights. Before going to trial, he says he will attempt to persuade the city council to rescind the ordinance. Tony Doris tony_doris@pbpost.com, Palm Beach Post http://www.palmbeachpost.com 3/31/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Kansas City Power & Light District: Dress Code Discrimination Kansas City, MO — The dress code at Kansas City’s Power & Light District (KCP & L District) has come under fire by the American Civil Liberties Union for allegedly denying urban residents access to Kansas City’s new $85 million entertainment zone. The Cordish Company — the corporate owner and developer of the downtown district — employs a dress code that bans long, white t-shirts and other fashion staples of the urban look, including excessively baggy clothing, shorts that fall below the top of the calf, shirts that hang below pant pockets, exposed necklaces on men, towels and Timberland boot, etc. City Council plans to discuss the Planning and Zoning Committee’s recommendations to curb the code. The controversy has also raised questions about the value of the KCP & L District to the local economic growth of the city, since a significant number of businesses are national chains. Debbie Coleman, The Kansas City Tribune http://www.kctribune.com 3/27/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Eleven’s Uphill Struggle To Extend Hours West Hollywood, CA — The nightclub “Eleven” has catalyzed development of a new policy and set of procedures for handling extended hours requests in West Hollywood. In addition to requesting a later mandatory closing, the club also seeks to open earlier, at 8am instead of 11am, to serve breakfast. Eleven’s unique request has been delayed by 60 days so that the club can install noise mitigation measures to address noise complaints and code compliance citations. WeHoNew.com http://wehonews.com/ 3/23/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Nightlife, Noise at Odds in Old Town Temecula Temecula, CA — New dining and entertainment development in Old Town Temecula, CA has prompted City Council members to investigate how to appropriately update the city’s noise ordinance. Tens of millions of public and private dollars have recently been invested in Old Town as the city seeks to revitalize its historic district with mixed uses from restaurants, offices and affordably priced apartments. Assistant City Manager Bob Johnson said that city staff will examine San Diego’s Gaslamp District as they attempt to balance residential life and nighttime activity. "We want residents there," said Johnson. "We want entertainment there. And we’re going to learn from what other communities do." Jeff Horseman, The Press-Enterprise http://www.pe.com/ 3/17/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Best Bar None Extends to Hotels Best Bar None, the awards scheme that recognizes safe and well run pubs, bars and clubs, has now introduced a hotel category in some areas of the country to recognize the importance of hotels in the licensed retail sector. BBN chairman Lord Redesdale commented, "Hotels obviously play a vital role in the night time economy so it is fitting that they should be included in such a crucial initiative as Best Bar None." Emma Eversham, Big Hospitality http://www.bighospitality.co.uk 3/13/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Movie Theaters for Grownups As the economic recession has deepened and American nightlife continues to evolve, movie theaters seeking to attract larger adult audiences and raise profits are offering gourmet food and alcoholic drinks — often delivered straight to your seat. It is estimated that 300 multiplexes in the country now offer high-end amenities, such as mixed drinks, food service of all kinds, recliner seats, tables and anything else that can transform the movie-going experience into a luxurious, complete experience. While specialty theaters are certainly not new, their growing popularity could mean greater revenues for the movie exhibitor industry, because unlike ticket prices, other revenues do not have to be shared with studios. Some are still skeptical, however, like Telluride Film Festival co-director Gary Meyer: "These kinds of theaters are very expensive to put together," he says. "You’re eliminating the under 21 audience." Charles Koppelman, MSN http://cityguides.msn.com 3/10/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Chicago’s Pedestrian Mall Solution: Traffic Chicago, IL — For nearly 20 years, Chicago’s State Street, a historic downtown shopping district, was stagnant, isolated and rampant with public disorder until a 1996 decision by the city council to rip up the pedestrian mall and connect it with the rest of the city. Traffic was eliminated from the area in 1979; American cities built more than 200 pedestrian malls in the 1960s and 1970s when they were losing shoppers to proliferating suburban malls and attempting to gain business with tranquil, traffic-free shopping zones. More than ten years after the city council’s decision, State Street is home to a downtown renaissance, and the decision to draw traffic and redesign the district is expected to serve as a model to cities all over the country. Michael Levenson mlevenson@globe.com, The Boston Globe http://www.boston.com 3/9/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article College Men Not Looking for a "Girl Gone Wild" Though college women may be drinking more and more heavily to impress male collegiates on campuses across the country, a new study suggests that men are not reacting as women expect. A survey of 3,616 college students at two universities found that an overwhelming majority of women overestimated the number of drinks a typical man would like his female friends, dates or girlfriends to drink at any event. The results were published by the American Psychological Association in the March issue of Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. The study’s lead author, Joseph LaBrie, PhD said that the research "suggests women believe men find excessive drinking sexually attractive and appealing, but it appears this is a giant misperception.” Health News Digest http://www.healthnewsdigest.com 3/9/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article A New Strategy to Attack a Decades-old Nightlife Problem in Providence For decades, nightlife in Providence has had a consistent — yet growing — problem: after the state-mandated 2 a.m. closing time, thousands of revelers from Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts pour back into the street and cause public disorder. After trying many different law enforcement techniques, civic, hospitality, legislative and law enforcement leaders are coming to embrace the idea of a soft closing time. Bars and nightclubs currently must close at 1 a.m. unless they have a license allowing them to close at 2 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and the Sunday before a legal holiday. The proposed soft closing time would change state law to extend that closing time to 3 a.m. — but no alcoholic drinks would be served the last hour, and bar and nightclub owners will be encouraged to turn on lights and lower music to help patrons mellow out. Civic leaders want to introduce legislation in the current session of the state General Assembly, and Sen. Maryellen Goodwin, D-Providence, is expected to be the sponsor. Gregory Smith, The Providence Journal http://www.projo.com 3/8/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Map of the (Drinking) World Courtesy of Sloshspot.com, a nightlife and entertainment online community, Economix features a map of of legal drinking ages around the world. The geographic visual is accompanied by links to research regarding the effect of legal drinking ages on mortality and various socio-political trends. Catherine Rampell, The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com 3/6/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Nightclub Appeals For Longer Hours St. Edmundsbury, UK — A nightclub operator, St. Edmundsbury Leisure Ltd., is appealing a decision by the St. Edmundsbury Borough Council to deny its application for longer hours at its club, Déjà Vu. The application was for the continued use of the ground floor as a bar, with a variation of the opening hours from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Andrew Barney, director of the company, said that they have been working with residents and the environmental health officer to solve problems of disturbance and public disorder in the area. A result from the Planning Inspectorate is expected around mid-May 2009. news@buryfreepress.co.uk, Bury Free Press http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk 3/6/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Best Bar None to Include Off-trade The UK’s Best Bar None (BBN) award scheme, designed to recognize responsible retailer, will be extended to include off-trade categories. Lord Redesdale, the BBN chairman, said that “It is a logical step forward... they operate under the same Licensing Act as the on-trade and often encounter the same problems of alcohol-related disorder." Matt Eley matte@thepublican.com, The Publican http://www.thepublican.com 3/2/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty Touts Future Scranton, PA — Mayor Chris Doherty summarized seven years of his administration during his seventh annual State of the City speech at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, emphasizing the progress of his vision of revitalizing the city’s economy, downtown, nightlife and parks. He will be sure to highlight this vision as he campaigns for a third term as mayor this spring. “I said I wanted to commit to the downtown because your communities are defined by your downtown," Doherty said. "Are they active? Are they vibrant? Are there people on the street? Are there people out at nighttime?” The mayor is expected to face former City Councilman Gary DiBileo in the Democratic mayoral primary May 19, 2009. Borys Krawczeniuk, The Times-Tribune http://www.thetimes-tribune.com 2/25/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Fears of Assault Hurts Sydney Economy Sydney, Australia — Criminology expert and University of Western Sydney professor Stephen Tomsen has warned his countrymen that fear of violence and anti-social behavior are limiting Sydney’s nightlife and damaging its economy. Though he said that there is "no solid evidence for a new increased level of violence or real general danger" at night in Sydney, he warns that "fear and unpleasant social encounters" keep many Sydney residents at home at night. "There’s no reason why the night-time economy has to be limited to those who focus on drinking large amounts of alcohol,’’ he said, before going on to encourage a large-scale effort to promote diverse nightlife activities and encourage residents to feel safe in their greater community at night. News Limited http://www.news.com.au 2/25/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Looking on the Bright Side of Life is in the Genes, Claim Scientists Essex, UK — University of Essex psychology researchers have found that variations of a mood altering gene may influence a person’s disposition. The gene, involved in the transportation of the well-being chemical serotonin, could influence whether or not a person has an optimistic or pessimistic view of life. They also believe the findings could help develop new treatments for anxiety and depression. Richard Alleyne, The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk 2/25/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Community Policing Downtown San Jose, CA — Members of the San Jose Restaurant & Entertainment Association have presented a plan to the San Jose City Council for “community policing” in the downtown entertainment district. The plan is a response to the city’s attempts to impose up to $80,000 in fees on a number of nightclubs in downtown San Jose. It is a new version of the “shared employment” model in which police officers are compensated directly by club owners. A link to the Powerpoint presentation of the policing proposal is contained at the end of the article. San Jose Inside http://www.sanjoseinside.com/ 2/24/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article News Flash: You Can Buy Happiness In the midst of the current economic crisis, many Americans have been reevaluating their long-term spending habits. It is thus timely that Ryan Howell, an assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University has released his study on the economics of happiness, finding that people — once their basic needs have been met — derive more enjoyment per dollar from experiences than possessions. Rather than buying big screen TVs, Howell found that people get more happiness from activities that return dividends on their investments, also known as memories. These findings suggest that people turn to community parks, entertainment venues and tourism for their splurges — for the social aspects as well as the personal — rather than short-term material possessions. Judith Timson, The Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com 2/24/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Social Networking Sites ’Changing Children’s Brains’ According to a prominent neuroscientist, social networking websites are changing children’s brains — making them more self-centered and impatient. Baroness Greenfield, director of the Royal Institution, warns that internet-obsessed children were losing the ability to concentrate and demand instant gratification. Greenfield adds that online conversations are replacing the face-to-face interactions that are key to developing a child’s sociability. However, scientists are divided about the consequences of the digital revolution; a study published last year showed that internet use could improve brain function and decision-making efficiency at the expense of empathy and abstract thought. Matthew Moore, The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk 2/24/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article S.J. Council Votes on Policing Downtown Entertainment District San Jose, CA — The San Jose City Council has pressed forward with a number of proposals designed to quickly revitalize the city’s downtown district. As part of the plan to have clubs contribute to entertainment policing, owners, community leaders and police will soon begin crafting a "kinder, gentler policing approach" to help patrons feel more welcome after hours. Club owners celebrated the vote, saying that the new police approach was something they had long demanded. The fee, which will be based on club occupancy limits, will help make up policing costs in the district; downtown clubs generate about $183,000 annually in taxes, but policing patrons costs about $824,000. Dennis Theriault, Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com 2/24/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Providence Nightclub Owners Form Association Providence, RI - The Providence nightlife revival saw great progress Monday when owners of bars and nightclubs announced the formation of the Providence Nightlife Association, as reported in the Providence Journal’s blog. Nightclub entrepreneur Alex Tomasso, the association president, said the association seeks collaboration with civic leaders, residents, the police and other stakeholders to find ways that will allow all parties to flourish in the city. Gregory Smith gsmith@projo.com, The Providence Journal http://www.projo.com/ 2/23/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article City Nightlife Takes On The Law Glasgow, UK — Conflict between nightlife businesses and law enforcement is leading to resurgent attempts to form partnerships in Glasgow, where 100,000 revelers per night are causing problems to public order. A Mori poll in 2005 showed that 58% of Glaswegians felt unsafe in the city center at night, and the rapes, assaults and occasional murders overshadow the hype surrounding the leisure sector, which has helped promote Glasgow as one of the UK’s most vibrant metropolitan areas. Recently, the city’s leading licensees have been complaining that the working relationship between them and the police has been disregarded and replaced by an attitude of belligerence. Gordon Macdiarmid, the former head of the Glasgow licensing board, says he is unsurprised by an apparent breakdown in relations, claiming an "illiberal" wind has been blowing. All that is certain is that relations must be improved soon, for the good of the booming nightlife in Glasgow and the citizens in the immediate area. Gerry Braiden gerry.braiden@theherald.co.uk, The Herald http://www.theherald.co.uk 2/20/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Plan For Policing Downtown San Jose, CA - John Conway, a founding member of the San Jose Restaurant and Entertainment Association, has proposed and presented a new policing model for San Jose’s downtown Entertainment Zone to the Mayor and City Council. The new model relies on Community Policing Roving Patrols (CPRP) consisting of six officers and one sergeant each to patrol on foot Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in distinct geographic hospitality areas. He proposes that any officers assigned to any CPRP teams should complete a training program focused on entertainment zone hospitality, as recommended by the City’s consultant, the Responsible Hospitality Institute. He notes that Chicago and San Diego currently implement similar training procedures. Conway’s proposal also addresses equitable financial contributions by downtown businesses to reduce costs and other changes in hospitality policing strategies. John Conway, San Jose Inside http://www.sanjoseinside.com 2/18/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Police Scolded For Hess Drinking Comments Hess Village, Ontario, CAN - Councillor Terry Whitehead admonished police Chief Brian Mullan for allowing the force to present to council their criticism of the growth of drinking establishments in Hess Village. In their presentation, police advised councillors that the entertainment district has reached its saturation point in licensed seating and that they are having trouble finding officers to work extra shifts to patrol Hess Village. Meanwhile, Councillor Bernie Morelli - chair of the police board - defended these comments, calling them "the right thing to do. All the police did was come in and give you a snapshot of what’s going on." Daniel Nolan, The Spec http://www.thespec.com 2/18/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Council Debates Adding Fees On Downtown Bars For Police Lafayette, LA - The Lafayette City-Parish Council met late into the night Feb. 17 to continue an ongoing discussion about charging a fee to bar owners to support more police in the entertainment district. Many council members had mixed feelings about the fee, with many supporting a fee but disagreeing how to divide the burden between bars and city government. Business owners have been receptive to the idea, but agreement on specifics has been very slow. Finally, Council members also acknowledged that increasing crowds in the entertainment district are partly due to city efforts to revitalize the area. Richard Burgess rburgess@theadvocate.com, The Advocate http://www.2theadvocate.com/ 2/18/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article License to Swill Seattle, WA — Due to a rising demand for beer, wine, and spirits licenses in the state, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) might be forced to turn away applicants, starting in four or five years. Washington’s state-imposed license cap is a sobering image of the nightlife industry, but the WSLCB has come up with a plan that could free up cap space by changing the way bars are licensed in the state. The proposal, which would create a new license specifically for clubs and give the state oversight authority that has historically belonged to the city, is still being revised in the state house and senate and should be voted on by March 11. The greatest effect of the bill is its provision to take away Seattle officials’ regulatory power over clubs. Jonah Spangenthal-Lee jonah@thestranger.com, The Stanger http://www.thestranger.com 2/18/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article There Goes The Neighborhood? Battle Brews Over Proposed Zoning Change For Bars In Mixed-use Residential Areas Salt Lake City, UT - Bob McCarthy sees his bar as a splash of Manhattan in Salt Lake City, a place where Capitol Hill and Avenues sophisticates could soon sip wine and martinis after work. Some of his neighbors see the bar as a danger to the children who live nearby. It’s a relationship shaken, stirred and on the rocks, as Salt Lake leaders hear residents and bar owners weigh in on a zoning change that would allow private clubs on a case-by-case basis in mixed-use areas. Aaron Falk afalk@desnews.com, Deseret Morning News http://www.desnews.com 2/17/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Thugs Face Total Ban from City Pubs Plymouth, UK - A plan proven successful in retail businesses in Plymouth is being extended to nightlife businesses to keep out troublemakers. A banned person who tries to enter such premises could find themselves served with an Anti-social Behaviour Order (Asbo). The scheme, backed by the police and thought to be the first of its kind in Britain, will be run as an extension of the Home Office-approved Plymouth Against Retail Crime (Parc) initiative, which has been operating successfully in the city since 2001. Called Parc Night, it will be in place by the end of February 2009. All 106 businesses already in Pubwatch and Clubwatch schemes have been invited to join. The Herald http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk 2/13/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Servers to Get Tips About the Tipsy San Marcos, CA — Bartenders, servers and clerks in San Marcos may soon be required to undergo training on spotting fake IDs and recognizing the signs of intoxication — to cut off further alcohol intake. The city, which calls this legislation a “responsible beverage sales and service” ordinance, aims to prevent problems involving alcohol from evolving in their growing city. California State University San Marcos has about 9,000 students but expects an enrollment of 25,000 in the future. If the ordinance — which may be voted on in the spring — is adopted, employees at existing businesses would have 180 days to comply. New hires would have 90 days to complete the training. Linda Lou, The San Diego Union-Tribune http://www.signonsandiego.com 2/7/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Public Health Must Take Precedence North Carolina — As state policymakers prepare to debate legislation that would set a smoking ban on all workplaces, familiar battle lines will be drawn in the state. Proponents, who say that public health takes precedence, are arguing that smoke-free policies demonstrably lower smoking rates, in addition to decreasing secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke accounts for more than 1 million annual illnesses in children, and has been identified by U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona as one of the causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) — the leading cause of death in healthy infants. Other benefits include lower cost of private insurance and savings to taxpayers. Finally, there is the class element: more than 76 percent of white-collar workers are protected by smoke-free workplace policies, compared with fewer than 60 percent of blue-collar and service-industry workers. Ronny Bell, The Winston-Salem Journal http://www2.journalnow.com 1/31/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article New Role Will Tackle Night Crime Wales, UK — Steve Williams, a former bar and club manager, has been appointed "night time economy coordinator" to tackle issues including crime, drunkenness, begging and litter in downtown Swansea at night. Williams plans to set up a night ambassador scheme and ban troublemakers from more than 50 downtown venues. The new position, which has been endorsed by the Swansea city police, is one of many in other parts of the UK; they have helped to reduce crime and public disorder, and improve relations with nightlife business managers. Chief Inspector Ray Bignell of the South Wales Police said the new role will "have a positive impact on feelings of safety in the city center." BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/20/2009

View Full Listing  Link to Article Ups And Down(town)s For over 10 years Beth Kosley led revitalization efforts for the Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership. Under her leadership, the BID expanded from 2 blocks to more than 30 blocks, and established an Arts on the Streets program and a stylish downtown shuttle. Although she left in October 2008, Kosley’s legacy remains in the recent creation of a quasi-governmental entity called the Downtown Development Authority, intended to accelerate growth. The Authority will subsidize downtown development and place greater emphasis on both residential development and expansion of arts and cultural attractions. J. Stanley stanley@csindy.com, Colorado Springs Independent http://www.csindy.com/gyrobase 12/18/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Broken Windows Two Harvard professors make a compelling case for the institution of community policing in America, the most popular strategy of the current police reform movement. James Q. Wilson and George L Kelling, authors of Fixing Broken Windows criticize the current professional model and defend community policing, principally the return to beat-policing, via the ’broken windows’ argument. Their argument, in simplest terms, is that abandoned property or small-scale vandalism, when left unfixed, invites public disorder in the area, lowers public perception of safety and morale and eventually leaves a community vulnerable to violent crime. Their model of policing is predicated on community relations, strict preservation of public order and prevention of small-scale crime. James and George Kelling Wilson, Manhattan Institute http://www.manhattan-institute.org/ 12/16/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Caffeine Myths and Facts Common myths about caffeine were examined and in some cases, debunked, by Web MD Medical Reference. Misperceptions tackled include caffeine’s addictive qualities, its likeliness to cause insomnia, dehydrating effects, harm to children, and whether or not it facilitates sobriety. WebMD Reference http://www.webmd.com/ 11/30/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Flip-flops Hotfoot It Across National Press Torbay, UK – Law enforcement plans to provide flip-flops to drunken revelers on their way home have been publicized in international headlines. Though often depicted whimsically, police plans are very serious, contends Torbay Partnerships Inspector Adrian Leisk. “What appears to have been missed is the emphasis on educating community members about the need to consume alcohol in a responsible manner.” The organization Safer Communities Torbay secured £30,000 of funding from the Home Office, £200 of which will be used to buy flip-flops with alcohol safety advice printed on them. To further combat serious safety issues in the Bay, a new community nighttime economy team will also be established and the safety bus, which is parked on Vaughn Parade, will also get a revamp. Herald Express http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/ 11/29/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Police Clamp Down In Clarendon, Jamaica Clarendon, Jamaica - Recent illegal activities during entertainment events have led Clarendon police to impose strict regulations on club and entertainment events during the upcoming Christmas Season. Clarendon police advise promoters to apply early for events, which will allow them to have sufficient time to inspect the premises for safety risks. Radio Jamaica http://www.radiojamaica.com/ 11/28/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article As Nightlife Booms, Rats Are Having a Party, Too New York City – East Side residents have something new to fear late at night: a rodent population that threatens to take over the entire district. Concerned residents who attended a Lower East Side Community Rodent Forum demanded swift action by city officials. City Council members who sponsored the forum attributed the rodent challenges to the large number of bars and restaurants who put out their garbage at night. Director of pest-control services for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene urged property owners, tenants, businesses and government to develop a coordinated response to effectively address the issue. Lesley Sussman, The Villager http://www.thevillager.com 11/26/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article "Bulgarian Mafia Controls Madrid’s Nightlife" Madrid, Spain – The Bulgarian mafia controls the security business of Madrid’s discotheques, contends an article published in the Spanish newspaper ABC. The article, which cited an anonymous police source, adds that the Gang of Ivo is one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in Madrid, that Ivo is notorious in the Madrid underworld and that he personally hires the security of the discotheques. It reported that the Bulgarian Mafia forces Madrid club owners to hire their people as security guards – and that sales of illegal drugs frequently occur in those clubs. Sofia News Agency, Emportal http://www.emportal.co.yu/en/ 11/26/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Across France, Cafe Owners Are Suffering Due to the global financial crisis, café businesses in France are declining, with an average of two closing everyday. The poor economic climate has led many to lose consumer confidence and thus cut down on spending. The overall change in café culture has also contributed to the slowdown affecting café businesses. Youths no longer have the habit of spending leisure time at the café and the coffee-at-the counter feel doesn’t hold the appeal it once had. Cafe owners also attribute the decline to the extension of the smoking ban to bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as increased police presence around late-night establishments. Steven Erlanger, The New York Times, 11/23/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Booze Bust: San Jose City Council Addresses High Arrest Rate San Jose, CA - Community groups and activists allege that San Jose police are enforcing the public intoxication law too aggressively, which they claim is clogging up the court system. Critics also allege that arrests for public drunkenness are being targeted at Latinos, who made up 57% of arrests last year despite comprising only 32% of the city’s population. SJPD denies these charges, and considers the arrests a legitimate way to manage public safety. Councilman Liccardo, representing the downtown district, where 36% of the arrests have occurred, has expressed his support of re-opening the city’s sobering center as an alternative to prosecution, and further, urges that proof of intoxication be required for arrest. Eric C. Rich, MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ 11/20/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article San Jose Downtown Association Prez Wants Police Board San Jose, CA – An op-ed presents the controversial (and not officially endorsed) call by the president of the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) for a ‘police advisory commission’. This commission would provide citizen oversight of police activities, which has been historically opposed by the SJPD, by serving as a body between the police and City Council so that a City Council meeting isn’t necessary every time issues are raised by the community. SJDA president Art Bernstein cites the need for a shift “from enforcement to management,” as illustrated by the police department’s aggressive stance towards permit compliance, code enforcement and the closing down of select downtown bars and clubs. Metroactive http://www.metroactive.com/ 11/19/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Beverage Ads Not Fueling Enough Word of Mouth New York, NY - A recent study done by a word-of-mouth research and consulting firm found that the beverage category (both alcoholic and non) is falling short when it comes to word of mouth as a branding tool. Nearly half of all word of mouth branding involves a reference to media or advertising. The study concludes that beverage advertisements tend to be more image-related, which are usually less "talk-worthy," since this type of message needs to have a clear product benefit. Natalie Zmuda nzmuda@adage.com, Advertising Age http://adage.com 11/18/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Night Time Economy Project Ceredigion, UK – To tackle night time economy challenges in Aberystwyth, the Ceredigions’s Community Safety Partnership funded a collaborative event to bring together the County Council, Police, Town Council, the University of Wales, local licensees and youth forum to discuss trends and develop solutions. With an underlying recognition of the importance of nightlife to the local economy and the desire to maintain its vibrancy and sustainability, these gathered stakeholders discussed noise, littering, vandalism, fears about safety, drunkenness and antisocial behaviour. Barbara Prichard abernte@ceredigion.gov.uk, Cyngor Sir Ceredigion County Council http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4295&splashpage=false 11/9/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Panel: Bar Owner Discriminated Based on Age Newport, RI – The state Human Rights Commission has declared that former bar owner Daniel Puerini must run a prominent ad saying that his business violated the state’s age-discrimination laws after denying entry to a 19-year-old in 2005. Puerini, who wasn’t fined, had a personal policy of declining entrance to those under 21, which the Commission found to be prohibited under state law. The Rhode Island Hotels and Public Places Act, prohibits discrimination against anyone over 18 at “a place of public accommodation,” which includes “taverns,” “restaurants,” “saloons,” and “barrooms.” Richard Salit, The Providence Journal http://www.projo.com 11/2/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Phoenix Cuts Early-Morning, Late-Night Bus Runs Phoenix, AZ – The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously to eliminate bus service between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Oct. 28, 2008. In addition, Saturday schedules will be reduced by 24% to mirror Sunday’s. Transit advocates heavily protested the move, saying that the cuts will disproportionately affect the poor and disabled, as well as further damage the city’s economy. Further reductions to bus service will be made in July as Phoenix attempts to close a $250 million deficit. The city hopes to restore bus routes when the economy improves. Casey Newton, The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com 10/29/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Abo’s Neighbors Say They’re Dropping Late-night Fight Boulder, CO – Late night pizza at Abo’s is no longer in the middle of a Boulder Planning Board dispute, as the local who made the appeal has dropped his case. Under current law, businesses can stay open until 11 p.m. but can seek waivers from the city to stay open later; Abo’s is open until 2:30 a.m. William Marine, the appellant, said that he and members of the University Hill Neighborhood Association, who supported the appeal, still think that businesses need a universal closing time – and community discussion about appropriate closing hours. He asserts that putting a popular restaurant in the middle of that discussion, like Abo’s, doesn’t make sense, however. Ryan Morgan, Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com 10/28/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Teen Club Is Bounced From Downtown The license for a downtown hall that hosted Club Bounce, promoted as the "D.C. Area’s Hottest 18 & Under Teen Night Club" was recently suspended. The Club Bounce program has been staged at various venues in the Washington area since 2007, with the central aim of providing a safe place for youth to hang out at night. No incidents were reported within the downtown venue, however, numerous complaints were issued from residents and businesses about underage curfew violations, unruly behavior, and a nearby shooting incident. Although Police District Commander Camperin commented that most of the youth activity was innocent ‘cruising’, the extra police patrols necessary to monitor activity from the 300 to 500 loitering youth were a drain to the city’s resources. Clarence Williams and Robert E. Pierre, Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ 10/25/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Nightlife Entrepreneurs Want Restrictions Ended Kathmandu, Nepal – Local nightlife entrepreneurs called on the government to end restrictions Oct. 25, 2008, claiming that the 11 o’clock mandatory closing time was threatening to put the entire sector – and thousands of workers – out of business. Since Sep. 3, the government has enforced restrictions on nighttime businesses under the direction of Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam. Gautam claims that dance restaurants, discos and pubs are breeding grounds for crime and have promoted negative aspects of Western culture, including "naked dances." Nightlife promoters have expressed their willingness to aid in regulation; they drafted a strict code of conduct as part of their appeal to the government. eKantipur http://www.kantipuronline.com 10/25/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Is It ‘Game Over’ For Hong Kong’s Nightlife? Unheeded by the worldwide financial crisis’ spread to Asia, nightlife in Hong Kong continues to flourish. Local club owners report that people seem to spend more money on nightlife during a downturn, perhaps as a form of escape. However, the city’s nightlife has historically fluctuated in intensity, as demonstrated during the Asian financial crisis of 1997 and S.A.R.S. outbreak of 2003. As promotional budgets for major establishments are cut, nightclubs are expected to rely on smaller, more exclusive events to bring in higher-end customers. Hong Kong Hustle http://www.hongkonghustle.com/ 10/20/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article New Zealand: Central City Bars To Change To One-Way Door At 3am Christchurch, New Zealand has updated its ‘one-way door’ policy to prevent bar hopping and thereby reduce alcohol-related crime and violence. On November 3, 2008, all bars will prohibit re-entry at 3am (previously 4am) so that patrons leaving venues after this time will not be able to re-enter any bar in the central city. Statistics supporting the update to the ‘one-way door’ policy indicate that offenses will be reduced by 20% at 3am, the peak time for crime and violence, versus only 11% at the current 4am time. Christchurch City Council, Scoop Independent News http://www.scoop.co.nz/ 10/20/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article ‘Good Nightlife’ Almost Twice as Influential as ‘Student Funding Availability’ in University Choice A UK survey of 2,000 16-24 year olds found that ‘good nightlife and entertainment’ is almost two times more likely to influence university choice than ‘access to student funding and grants’. The top three university choice reasons were ‘course content’, ‘academic reputation’ and ‘location’. Entertainment was rated the fourth-highest determining factor, with 76% of respondents indicating that it was a significant factor in choosing a university. Personalized Education Now http://blog.personalisededucationnow.org.uk/ 10/19/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Walk To Create Awareness Of Downtown Nightlife Restaurants, pubs and coffeehouses in Holland, MI have organized a “Groove Walk” event to promote awareness of Holland’s downtown nightlife scene. For $10, patrons can gain access to 11 participating venues, many of which will be featuring live music as well as drink and appetizer specials. Free transportation will be provided by the GrooveExpress, a shuttle service making nonstop loops to all locations throughout the evening. The event aims to reframe downtown as a destination for 20- and 30-somethings and a center for live music. Ashley Teffer, Holland Sentinel http://www.hollandsentinel.com/ 10/17/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Ifs, Ands, And Butts In 2005 a study of Massachusetts shores conducted by the Ocean Conservancy found that cigarettes accounted for 37% of coastal litter. The Journal of Tobacco Control states that smokers toss at least 4.5 trillion cigarette butts on the ground worldwide. Many smokers view this second nature habit to be insignificant in comparison to other issues. In Vineyard Haven, MA throwing lit cigarettes from a car is subject to hefty fines and possible imprisonment. Winthrop Roosevelt, New York Times http://www.nytimes.com 10/16/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article “No Refusal" Policy Could Curb Halloween Drinking In preparation for Halloween weekend, Austin’s Police Chief is considering a new program to tackle drunk driving. The city’s “no refusal” plan would allow officers to obtain a blood test for any DWI suspect who refuses a breathalyzer test. There were mixed reviews regarding the proposal - some believe it’s an invasion of privacy, while others feel that it will motivate people to designate an unimpaired driver. MSNBC and KXAN-TV http://www.msnbc.com 10/16/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Decision ’08: Vote Now For Citysearch’s ’Best Of Nightlife’ Campaign The online travel resource, CitySearch.com, opened polls across the nation to identify the best nightlife cities for an award series voted on by Citysearch users. From October 10 - November 6, 2008 users are encouraged to cast their votes for the best bars and clubs in their city. Nicole Myden Nicole.Myden@citysearch.com, Market Watch http://www.marketwatch.com 10/13/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Edinburgh City Scheme Slashes Crime In Nightclubs In Edinburgh, London, bar and club owners have been utilizing the ‘Unight’ safety system to communicate about troublemakers. The system allows businesses to share CCTV images of individuals banned from one venue, which results in an automatic ban for all, essentially stopping anti-social customers from moving to other venues in the city center. The Unight system is credited for an overall reduction in criminal activity in the area by 21%. In the past 12 months it has been in operation, members have handed out 140 bans – an average of almost three per week. Nick Eardley nick.eardley@journal-online.co.uk, The Journal http://www.journal-online.co.uk 10/13/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Is Miami The Best Place For Singles? A Forbes.com article ranked Miami, FL within the top best cities for nightlife, culture and coolness, and the 13th best place for singles. Diana Graulich, Miami Springs Examiner http://www.examiner.com 10/10/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Extra Public Transport Put On To Help Curb Late Night Violence In Melbourne, Australia, the recent increase in late-night violence served as the catalyst for a safety summit hosted by the Melbourne City Council. Attendees included police, politicians, liquor licensing representatives, youth groups and business groups. The group brainstormed a list of initiatives to help curb violence. These include the following: increase the number of buses and locations of taxi’s, improve security and lighting around transport hubs, establish a Monday morning group to review the weekend’s outcomes and increase the numbers and visibility of police. The summit also decided that a special task force should be created and the planning of future entertainment precincts should be reviewed. Matt Johnston, Herald Sun http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun 10/3/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article DIY Scene: Big Government Wants To Intrude On Small Venues In a Baltimore, MD blog, a concerned citizen presents concerns about City Council’s proposed live-entertainment licensing bill, which would replace the current zoning-based system used for granting venues the right to put on live entertainment. According to the blogger, the bill may lead to over-policing venues ‘at an unacceptable level’ and further, the proposed 9-month renewal period may cause businesses that depend on live entertainment to go out of business. Ed Schrader ed@whamcity.com, Baltimore’s Daily Conversation http://bthesite.com 9/30/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Downtown Resident Tired Of Bar Noise Recent redevelopment in downtown Gainesville, FL has sparked complaints between residents and nightclub owners. A newly built condo building was built adjacent to a popular bar and live music venue, resulting in complaints by new residents about the impact on their quality of life. The City Commissioner’s response has been to remind residents that the district is a mix of both residential and commercial interests, and further, that "those who choose to live in any of our hospitality districts…have a reasonable expectation that there will be noise associated with such business.” Cindy Swirko swirkoc@gvillesun.com, The Gainesville Sun http://www.gainesville.com/ 9/28/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article NEPAL Maoist Government Closing All Night Clubs Nepal’s new Home Affairs minister has ordered all nightlife establishments to close at 11 p.m. as a way to cut down on criminal activity. Hundreds of nightclubs, discos, bars, restaurants and casinos could be forced to shut down permanently, putting up to 8,000 jobs at risk. The Nightlife Business Organization chairman expressed concern about the negative economic impact on the country’s nightlife industry, workforce and foreign tourism. Employers and workers involved in the nighttime economy have declared a strike in protest to this restriction. Kalpit Parajuli, Asia News http://www.asianews.it 9/25/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article DUI Fatalities Down Nationwide – Remain High In Wisconsin The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new figures showing a significant decline in the number of drunk driving-related fatalities occurring nationally and in 32 individual states. However, the number of alcohol related fatalities among motorcyclists is climbing in half of the states. Figures also show that Wisconsin continues to rate among the worst for drunk driving. A NHTSA advertising campaign is aiming to reach high risk demographic groups through more web-based outreach and teaming up with alternative media partners. The ads can be seen on message banners on well-known social media sites, internet TV programs, mobile devices and event PC-based video games. Lisa Loring, The Daily Kenoshan http://dailykenoshan.com/index.php 9/22/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Responsible Tourism The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) will be hosting their 44th annual convention in order to promote responsible tourism among hotels and restaurants. The aim is to encourage and promote environmentally sound practices within the tourism industry. This convention will set the tone by being their first ‘carbon neutral convention’. Deccan Herald http://www.deccanherald.com 9/22/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Man Attempts Nightclub Abductions In Austin, Texas, two separate incidents occurred where an attacker attempted to grab women from their cars as they left a rodeo nightclub and headed towards a parking garage across the street. Both women were able to fight off their attacker. Police believe the suspect targeted the area because the club was hosting a Ladies Night, which could be expected to draw a large concentration of women to the area. MSNBC and KXAN-TV (local news) http://www.msnbc.com 9/21/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Night Life Offers Fun, Alcohol Free Programs At the University of North Dakota (UND) a program was designed to get students out of their dorms and apartments and into a fun, social environment. The goals of the UND Night Life program are “to provide fun and exciting activities on campus for students during peak social hours on Friday and Saturday nights to get them out of their resident halls and interact with peers,” said the head of the program. The activities range from movie nights, scrapbooking, and dodgeball tournaments to Guitar Hero competitions. UND Night Life provides alcohol-free entertainment to students who are either too young or not interested in drinking, with an average turn out of 200 students each night. The success of the program’s initial trial run led the University to secure funding for the entire academic year in 2007-2008. Terran Chambers, Dakota Student http://www.dakotastudent.com 9/19/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article America Can’t Afford Consequences Of Lowered Drinking Age A guest columnist for Purdue University’s student newspaper asserts that the recent debate among university chancellors and presidents about lowering the drinking age to 18 is propelled by the desire to remove liability from educational institutions for on-campus, alcohol-related accidents and fatalities. Diane Johns asserts that current penalties for underage binge drinking, such as paying fines and speaking with a drug/alcohol counselor, fall short of educating youth on the serious consequences of intoxication. She suggests toughening up the consequences for underage persons who get caught through jail time, suspension of their driver’s licenses and mandatory community service. Diane Johns, The Exponent-Purdue’s Student Newspaper http://www.purdueexponent.com 9/19/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Good Old Days Goes High Tech With Identification A Bloomsburg, PA bar and grill recently installed the ID verification system software, "Clubscan," which is made by Card Scanning Solutions. Clubscan uses an optical scanning device which enables them to verify driver’s licenses from all 50 states, passports and military ID’s. It can also determine if the ID is expired and shows customer status (VIP, general admission or banned). When an ID is scanned the customer’s age is clearly displayed and alert messages are generated if they are under 18 or under 21. Along with the Clubscan system the bar also installed a fingerprint check-in/check-out system, called, "Smokescreen," which is made by IDscan Biometrics. This system can ID departing/returning customers based on their fingerprint and can authorize a time limit for the customer to return without being charged again. Eric Bower, Bloom U Today http://bloomutoday.com 9/11/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article The Best Cities For Singles Forbes.com teamed up with Harris Interactive to survey America’s cities to rank the best places for singles and the coolest cities. Atlanta, GA was ranked the #1 “Best place for singles,” while New York City, NY was #1 on the “Coolest cities” list. The rankings were targeted to young, ambitious singles under the age of 35 that can live and work wherever they want due to the techno-mobility of this generation. Michael Noer, Forbes http://www.forbes.com 9/4/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article College Presidents Seek Drinking Age Debate College presidents from one hundred well-known U.S. universities such as Dartmouth and Duke are calling for a national debate among lawmakers about lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. Concerned about the high prevalence of college binge drinking and alcohol-related injuries, presidents believe college students drink “more dangerously when it’s illegal.” Mothers Against Drunk Driving contest that lowering the drinking age will only increase the number of traffic fatalities, however. Associated Press, MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ 8/19/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Crime’s Down In East Lansing In East Lansing, MI a drop in serious crimes (e.g. murder, rape, aggravated assault) has been reported over the course of a decade, representing a 41% decline. Police Chief Tom Wibert attributed the downward trend to the work of groups like the Community Relations Coalition, a city/student university initiative that brings together residents and students residing in neighborhoods close to campus; and the Responsible Hospitality Council which consists of restaurant and bar owners working with the Police Department to combat underage drinking. The university has also raised admission standards and the university’s Olin Heath Center has been working to educate student on risky behaviors. The health center reports that 81% of students now designate a driver if drinking is part of their activities. Lansing State Journal http://www.lansingstatejournal.com 8/18/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Keep Downtown Nightlife Safe...But Don’t Squeeze The Life Out Of The Place Downtown Greensboro, NC is seeking creative solutions to manage the large nighttime bar crowds that overwhelm police and security. The article proposes a few possible solutions, including an ordinance that limits the hours of sidewalk dining, creation of wider sidewalks, holding club owners more accountable for security and additional police presence. The author, a center-city resident, asserts that city leaders should address safety issues without squeezing the life out of the downtown district. Allen Johnson, News & Record http://news-record.com 8/17/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Smokers Take Last Drag Before Alfresco Ban Perth, Australia joins the growing number of cities throughout the world placing restrictions on smoking, with similar responses by those who believe it will diminish sociability. Most businesses support the ban in theory but many feel apprehensive about policing smokers. Fremantle City Council environmental health and building services co-coordinator Matthew Piggott said he understood the concerns but the ban was not to alienate people, just to ask them not to smoke in dining areas. Lindsay McPhee, The West Australian http://www.thewest.com.au/ 8/15/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Cuyahoga County DUI Task Force, Local Police Agencies And Ace Taxi Join Forces To Tackle Impaired Driving Upcoming Labor Day festivities in Cleveland’s dining and entertainment center mobilized a unique partnership to tackle impaired driving. Law enforcement, cab drivers and bar and restaurant owners will collaborate as Ace Taxi launches its Taxis on Patrol for Safety (TOPS) initiative. Cab drivers will receive special training to recognize signs of impaired drivers and correctly record and report incidents, effectively doubling “eyes on the street.” A Safe Rides program will also provide free rides to the Warehouse District as an incentive not to drive Labor Day weekend. Wall Street Journal: Market Watch http://www.marketwatch.com/ 8/13/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Trading Places: The Demographic Inversion Of The American Cty A “demographic inversion” is taking place across the nation, where the white middle classes are displacing minorities, immigrants and the lower classes in urban city centers. Due in part to downtowns’ transition from manufacturing hubs into centers for cultural vitality and professional services, this revitalization is attracting singles, couples and empty nesters to mixed-use urban environments. Alan Ehrenhalt, The New Republic http://www.tnr.com/ 8/13/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article New License Should Reduce Underage Drinking To prevent minors from buying tobacco and alcohol products, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a House Bill to change the format of Driver’s Licenses from the standard horizontal layout to a vertical one for people under twenty one years of age. This will remove the need to calculate age, allowing store clerks the benefit of immediate differentiation between id’s. Stephanie Almeida Franklin, The Macon County News http://www.maconnews.com 7/31/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Restaurant Chains Close As Diners Reduce Spending Several national chain restaurants have been forced to file bankruptcy during the nation’s economic downturn, including Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale. Among the contributing factors include increases in commodity prices and minimum wage, lack of brand loyalty among customers, gas prices and overall tightening on household budgets. Americans are choosing to take more meals at home and consumers are becoming less willing to accept the price increases they might have in the past. Michael Grynbaum, The New York Times http://nytimes.com 7/30/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article L.A. Wants Yearlong Fast Food Ban In South Los Angeles, CA, 73% of restaurants are fast food establishments. City Council attributes above average obesity rates to the lack of affordable, healthy food choices in the area, and hopes that the year-long moratorium will attract healthier options in the form of grocery stores, fresh produce markets and full-service restaurants with food prepared to order. The proposed action will be the first of its kind to protect public health. However, fast food chains believe they are being unfairly targeted, stating “It’s not where you eat, it’s what you eat.” Associated Press, MSNBC http://www.msnbc.com 7/29/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Builder Wants To Make Downtown District A Destination In Atlanta, GA, developer David Marvin is working to create a downtown destination district similar to the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, CA. The Atlanta district already has several large attractions, but to make this a one stop shop for visitors and locals alike, he wants to create a cohesive district with hotels, restaurants and entertainment all within walking distance. District members plan to pool money for a marketing fund, which will include media announcements, website promotion, e-marketing, and distribution of brochures and maps. Leon Stafford, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://www.ajc.com 7/26/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Study Finds Loud Music Can Make People Drink More In a study by France’s Universite de Bretagne-Sud, Professor Nicolas Gueguen has established a correlation between music volume and speed of alcohol consumption in licensed premises. Gueguen found that the louder the music, the more bar patrons will drink in a shorter amount of time. Commuity Anti-Drug Coalitions of America http://www.cadca.org/ 7/24/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Eastern Promises The east side of San Antonio, Texas is currently in transition from an events-based downtown corridor with notoriously high crime rates to a walkable, vibrant Arts and Entertainment district. The City of San Antonio Planning and Community Development department has proposed to capitalize on already established entertainment venues to create new residential and commercial spaces, complete with new streetscapes and pedestrian amenities such as ample sidewalks and public art. The project has proposed three economic incentives: an Empowerment Zone, in which businesses may receive wage credits, deductions, capital gain incentives and bond financing; an Enterprise Zone, which is a package of state tax benefits including sales and usage tax refunds; and an Incentive Scorecard that awards qualifying projects rebates, reductions, or waivers for certain development fees. Jennifer Herrera, San Antonio Current http://www.sacurrent.com 7/23/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Dancing The Night Away, It’s All About Text Appeal What do churches, nightclubs, and large conferences have in common? They have all begun using text-to-screen technology to reach an evolving demographic. Text messaging technology can now be used to send song or prayer requests and ask questions at large conferences. Fire Text is a Canadian company that provides text-to-screen services allowing anyone to send a text message to a designated phone number; the receiving cell phone is hooked up to a computer, which is hooked up to a projector. The messages are monitored and edited if necessary. Laura Yao, Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com 7/20/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Supreme Court Says Hosts Not Responsible For Adult Drinkers In Manville, Rhode Island the State Supreme Court declined to hold a couple liable for the injuries incurred by a young woman who claimed that she and her boyfriend were urged to overindulge in alcohol at a party held at the defendants’ home before driving and crashing into a utility pole. The social host liability law has only been recognized by the Supreme Court in limited circumstances, such as when injuries result from minors being supplied alcohol illegally. In this case, however, the high court ruled the party’s hosts as not-guilty of the charges because “this was a gathering of adults in a social setting where some adults knowingly over-indulged in alcoholic beverages.” Russ Olivo, Pawtucket Times http://www.pawtuckettimes.com 7/11/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Parking, Buses Called Key To Downtown Nightlife In Phoenix, Arizona an alliance has formed between downtown hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and theaters to collaboratively develop a late-night transportation plan focusing on parking. The group is working with the city and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership (BID) to offer discounted parking at garages, provide a free shuttle from garages to nightspots and create a marketing plan to increase ridership on popular routes. Jahna Berry, AZ Central http://azcentral.com 7/6/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Fun events make nightlife the right life In Bridgeport, Connecticut, former City Council member and recent downtown resident, Keith Rodgerson, has organized a weekly informal arts event and picnic in the downtown plaza through the end of the summer. Previously, people interested in arts events had to go to neighboring towns, since the plaza is typically devoid of activity. This is an effort to liven up the downtown area, promote local artists, and facilitate sociability among neighbors. Aaron Leo, Connecticut Post http://www.connpost.com/ 7/4/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article First Friday Fallout First Friday was originally conceived as a night of celebrating art in San Antonio, Texas. In the mid-90’s the Southtown Mainstreet Alliance of San Antonio thought this would be a great way to get people out on the street to promote local artists and businesses. Although the event successfully draws crowds, not everyone “come(s) for the art.” The Alliance has found it challenging to manage food vendors, alcohol consumption, parking and noise without a mechanism for coordinating sufficient resources to manage the impacts of the event. Jennifer Herrera, San Antonio Current http://sacurrent.com 7/2/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article SIA Targets Door Supervisors In Bath And Revokes Director’s License The UK is making headway in the regulation and licensing of door staff of clubs, pubs and other licensed venues in Bath, England. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) knows that cities like Bath benefit from their vibrant nightlife and in order to make communities safer is requiring that door staff be properly licensed. A license holder can have their license revoked if they do not comply with the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Brian Sims, Info 4 Security http://www.info4security.com/ 6/28/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Rochdale Best Bar None “Best Bar None,” a UK-wide scheme to promote safer and more vibrant bars, pubs, and clubs, has been adopted in more than sixty UK cities in the past five years. Aimed at promoting responsible management and operation of alcohol-licensed premises, Best Bar None’s ultimate intent is for the UK to offer and maintain a safer, more welcoming, attractive and lively drinking experience. Suzy suzy@rochdaletcm.co.uk, Rochdale Online http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk 6/26/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article UK Residents Rally to Restrict Lap-Dancing Clubs in Neighborhoods Communities in England are rallying against the nationwide proliferation of lap-dancing clubs. Licensing laws established in 2003 currently treat lap-dancing clubs in the same way as cafes and karaoke bars, an oversight that has allowed these clubs to double in number in the past 4 years. Women’s groups argue that they should be classified as “sex encounter establishments” with the same restrictions as adult-film cinemas and sex shops to make it easier to refuse licenses. Residents have expressed concern not only about the moral implications but also the impact on their neighborhood – many clubs are placed in residential neighborhoods with limited parking and taxis as well as minimal security. The Independent UK http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ 6/18/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Looking For Nightlife on C-Street Springfield, Missouri’s Commercial Street works to overcome negative perceptions of safety to transition into the city’s vision of an arts and entertainment district. The Urban Districts Alliance passed Tax Increment Financing for streetscape improvements, which the organization hopes will help to attract new hospitality businesses to open. Jeremy Stevens, Ozarks First http://ozarksfirst.com/ 6/18/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Bars Foaming Over Allegheny County Drink Tax Allegheny County’s 10% alcoholic drink tax has been met with strong resistance from customers and the 2,000 affected liquor license holders. Protestors have launched a tax revolt through humor (dumping beer and liquor in the Mon River dressed in colonial garb) and legislative referendums. In November, voters will be able to choose to continue the drink tax or to increase property taxes in order to subsidize mass transit, the principal aim of the tax. Associated Press, The Pittsburgh Channel http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com 6/15/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Citysense Monitors Real-Time Human Traffic Sense Networks has launched “Citysense,” a mobile map similar to automobiles’ Global Positioning System (GPS) that shows the busiest nightlife hot spots and crowded restaurants with real-time accuracy in San Francisco. Currently only accessible through a BlackBerry, though an iPhone version is on the way, this “social navigation” service will soon be available in six other major cities. Barry Levine, News Factor Network http://www.newsfactor.com/ 6/9/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Drunk, A Security Guard And An Academic Walk Into A Bar In his academic study of nightclubs in Canada, George Rigakos tackles the role of bouncers in entertainment districts and the larger role of nightclubs in society. Rigakos asserts that nightclubs are "rife with violence" from sexual competition among male consumers to altercations between security staff and patrons. Rigakos found that bouncers experience more workplace violence than police officers, attributed to a common “us-versus-them” attitude toward their patrons and revenge attacks when they’re off work. Don Butler, The Ottawa Citizen http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/index.html 6/8/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Downtown Businesses Split On Nightlife Patrol Program Twenty eight downtown liquor license holders in Green Bay, Wisconsin are required to fund two beat police officers to work from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on weekend nights. Business owners, who risk losing their liquor license if they refuse to contribute, have urged lawmakers to create tougher penalties for problem businesses instead of forcing the law-abiding majority to pay for extra security. However, many believe the officers have helped to “strengthen the overall impression of downtown” as a safe and friendly place to be at night. Paul Srubas psrubas@greenbaypressgazette.com, Green Bay Press Gazette http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com 6/8/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Mayor Seeks Nightclub Regulator Inconsistent enforcement standards for Seattle bars and clubs has led the city to create the new high-level position of a Nightlife Regulatory Coordinator. This individual will be working to ensure safe and vibrant nightlife in the city through policy development and coordination of the “Joint Enforcement Team,” an interdepartmental team consisting of regulatory and enforcement agencies. Angela Galloway, Seattle Post-Intelligencer http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/ 6/4/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Wild Brawls In Melbourne’s Central Business District As Clubs Fight 2am Ban In the midst of the 2am lockout debate in Melbourne, Australia, graphic photographs of a bouncer brutalizing a patron on the streets were released. Supporters of the 3-month trial lockout claim that the 2am late entry ban will help reduce alcohol-fueled violence on the streets, yet opponents argue that it will increase as a result. More than 80 nightclub and bar owners have received exemptions from the governments’ trial based on outstanding applications, but must abide by such conditions as doubling the number of bouncers inside and outside their venue and agreeing not to advertise or promote their venue’s exemption from the ban. Staff Reporter, The Herald http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun 6/2/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Lockout To Destroy Central Melbourne Nightlife Bar owners in Melbourne are rallying to protest the three-month trial of 2am late entry bans for pub, bar and nightclub venues. They assert that the lockout is a blanket strategy that targets both good and bad licensees indiscriminately, and urges the city to consider alternative solutions. Norrie Ross, Herald Sun http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/ 6/2/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Trade Must Unite to Save Pubs One impact of the 24/7 licensing law in the UK is the big box stores selling alcoholic beverages for a longer period and at greatly reduced prices to draw in customers, leaving the future of pubs in jeopardy. Pre-loading is becoming a common practice, as people buy and drink in their home before venturing out to meet friends in the local pubs. John Harrington, Morning Advertiser http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/ 5/21/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article France Mulls Happy-hour Ban to Curb Youth Drinking Concern about binge drinking and related drunken behavior is leading consideration of policies to ban happy hours, restrict spirits drinks to single servings rather than bottles, and raise the drinking age to 18 (16 year olds can now order beer and wine). A night club owner says these will not stop the problem, and young people will just switch to beer rather than spirits. Estelle Shirbon, International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com 5/20/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Southampton Gets Superclub Oceana, a 4,000 occupancy nightclub is scheduled to open and serve patrons until 4:30 a.m. The extended hours are supported by city officials as a way to diversify activities in the city, even though police wanted a 3:00 a.m. closing. Paul Charity, Morning Advertiser http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/ 5/19/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Private Security Cracking Down On Panhandling In Downtown Memphis In Downtown Memphis, private security guards patrol the streets to stop aggressive panhandlers from approaching shoppers and residents. Although panhandlers are still present Downtown, there has been a significant drop in aggressive panhandling, as security officers are able to intervene quickly and efficiently. The privately funded Center City Commission is paying for the private security guards and is considering renewal of their contracts at the end of June. In addition, Beale Street has now become the first entertainment district in the country to use off-duty police officers for security purposes in order to stop panhandlers and help manage crowds. This initiative is paid for by Performa, the private company that oversees the district. Sarah Buduson sbuduson@myeyewitnessnews.com, Eyewitness News Everywhere http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/default.aspx 4/24/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article House Rules The University of Wisconsin, Madison has been ranked the nation’s top party school by both Playboy and the Princeton Review. The abundance of house parties - big gatherings that students host off-campus - contribute greatly to that title. Students go to these parties because it is an inexpensive way for them to consume alcohol and to hang out with friends. Police and community leaders are concerned about excessive drinking and lawlessness at house parties, however. Before the start of the school year, the police department established a cooperative dialogue with students and residents, with the goal being to keep parties more manageable and to avoid out-of-control situations rather than extinguish house parties altogether. Joanna Salmen, On Wisconsin http://www.uwalumni.com/home/home.aspx 4/23/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article The Future Of Night Life Is Now In Corvallis, Oregon, there has been a noticeable difference in downtown and it comes from the recent explosion of new bars and restaurants. Bar owners are renovating old buildings to bring a new level of class and style to downtown. The Enoteca Wine Bar uniquely caters to the morning crowd after they enjoy a night out by opening at 6 am and serving either wine or coffee. For residents in Corvallis who thought they had to leave town to truly live it up, the author wants to remind them that they can go out and stay in town at the same time. Jake TenPas, Albany Democrat Herald http://www.democratherald.com/ 4/18/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Hub VIP Bottle Service Ban Has Club Owners Spinning Nightclub owners in Boston are caught off guard by the sudden ban on bottle service because it allegedly violates alcohol laws’ specification on the maximum number of drinks allowed per customer. Several club owners argue that the service is for high-end clientele where there would be a waitress holding the bottle like at a regular bar. Industry professionals are already seeing a drop-off in business after the ban. However, VIP service is still allowed as long as bottles of alcohol are not being sold. Dave Wedge, The Boston Herald http://news.bostonherald.com/ 4/18/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Valet And Taxi Services Offered For Downtown Nightlife The Business Improvement District of Downtown, Albany, N.Y has gathered restaurant owners, and taxi companies to come up with a solution to prevent patrons from driving under the influence after a night out on the town. They have decided to start a pilot program that offers valet parking and a taxi stand every Friday and Saturday night on their main street through mid-October. Valet parking will be available between 6pm until 1pm while the taxi stand will be open from 6pm to 5am. Ken Jubie, Capital News 9 http://capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/Default.aspx 4/18/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Put A Cork In It! City Cracks Down On Nightclub ‘Bottle Service’ Boston city officials are trying to prohibit ‘bottle service’ - an exclusive perk that allows big spenders to host a VIP table for themselves and their friends at nightclubs after they purchase a bottle of high-end liquor. Daniel Pokaski, Chairman of the Boston Licensing Board and a proponent of the ban, thinks that the VIP service violates ‘happy hour’ laws that ban serving more than two drinks at a time to a patron. Courtesy notices will be sent to club owners informing them of the service ban but some club owners argue that bottle service is legal and that taking it away will lead to a decrease in profit. Dave Wedge, The Boston Herald http://news.bostonherald.com/ 4/17/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article A New American Dream - From Sub-Prime Crisis To Livable Communities: McMansions Revisited As the sub-prime mortgage crisis continues to increase the financial risk of those living in suburban communities, the author suggests that this is the time to redefine the American Dream to refocus on doing something better. He feels that a fundamental shift is taking place towards a more integrated, walkable, urban centered lifestyle. According to a study by the Metropolitan Institute on trends in demographics, consumer preferences, and other data, there is a growing shift in lifestyle and housing preferences for newly gentrified urban centers. What used to be a suburban shopping mall is slowly becoming a form of mixed-used faux urban “lifestyle center.” There is an evidential shift toward sustainable, walkable, mixed-used development, or, ‘walkable urbanism’, from drivable suburbanism. Tom Schueneman, Triple Pundit http://www.triplepundit.com/ 3/11/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Diageo Congratulates Providence Mayor David Cicilline On Successful Partnership With The Responsible Hospitality Institute Diageo, the world’s leading spirits, beer and wine company, forwards its support and congratulations to Providence, Rhode Island Mayor David N. Cicilline on receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award for Public/Private Partnerships for successfully implementing a Hospitality Resource Partnership (HRP). The HRP is based on a partnership model developed by the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) to better manage a city’s nighttime economy. North America Diageo’s Vice President of Public Policy, Gary Zizka, commends Mayor Cicilline decision and encourages other cities to follow his lead and engage with RHI to develop safe and vibrant places to socialize. Fox Business http://www.foxbusiness.com/ 2/25/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article British Drinking Laws Linked To Crime Rate The increase in the United Kingdom’s crime rate has propelled police to implicate the government’s licensing ordinance allowing pubs and clubs to stay open 24 hours a day. Police officials have cited a significant increase in the number of alcohol-related crimes since the implementation of the laws regarding alcohol sales and intake. Chairman of the Police Federation warned that changing licensing hours without changing the drinking culture would cause a drain of their limited resources. A major federal review of the legislative change’s impact is currently underway. United Press International http://www.upi.com/ 2/23/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Time For A Sober Look At "Epidemic" Nonsense A report published by the British Medical Association encourages raising taxes on alcohol and reducing the legal BAC limit in order to tackle the UK “epidemic” of alcohol misuse. An editorialist asserts that it is necessary to understand the relationship –the good and the bad- between alcohol and society. He also comments that countries with a more “sensible attitude” such as those in southern Europe, which allow young people to drink a little from an early age, can create inter-generational pleasure rather than an act of transgression. In the past 40 years, the consumption of alcohol in the form of wine has increased by 19 percent, suggesting the trend towards sociability rather than binge drinking. As a result, the author points out that a price increase to deter excessive drinkers would inflict collateral damage to the majority of moderate drinkers. Charles Moore, Telegraph Newspaper http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ 2/23/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Country Switch To Green Street Lights In England’s West Sussex, Hampshire and Southampton, millions of pounds are being invested in improving street lighting under the South Coast Street Lighting Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project. Eighty percent of the region’s 64,000 street lights will be replaced with more modern and energy-efficient ones in an effort to improve road safety and both reduce crime and the fear of crime, thus stimulating the nighttime economy. A county cabinet member for highways and transport agreed that PFI is the most time and cost effective way to carry out this massive project. Chichester Observer http://www.chichester.co.uk/ 2/22/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Police People Like Pubs! (Blog) The UK Licensing Act of 2003 allows pubs, clubs and restaurants to remain open 24/7, generating both controversy and opportunity for innovative strategies. Plymouth, England Police Superintendent Jim Webster proposes a "saturation" or "cumulative impact" policy as a balance between the economic value produced by the "Evening and Night Time Economy" (ENTE) and its impact on residents and communities. Jim Webster, Chief Superintendent Blogspot http://chiefsuperintendent.blogspot.com/ 2/21/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article In Bangalore, Say Cheers Beyond Curfew Time With the increasing high-tech sector and foreign business visitors to the city of Bangalore, India, the state tourism department is trying to extend bar and pub closing time from 11:30pm to 1:30am. Karnataka state police also support the initiative, recognizing that people returning late at night will encounter safety problems if all the pubs and restaurant closed too early. Some of the more popular pubs of Bangalore are preparing to add more events if the curfew is extended. The extended curfew might attract more investments and visitors since nightlife is the essence of a tourist destination. Bhargavi Kerur k_bhargavi@dnaindia.net, Daily News and Anaylsis http://www.dnaindia.com/ 2/19/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Winston-Salem Nightlife Coalition Seeks Middle Ground With City In reaction to a policeman’s death and other violence outside of clubs in Winston-Salem, NC, the city council proposed a series of measures to regulate nightlife. In response, businesses came together and organized the Winston-Salem Music and Nightlife Association to initiate voluntary measures to promote safety while maintaining business viability. Amy Kingsley amy@yesweekly.com, Yes Weekly http://www.yesweekly.com/index.asp 2/12/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Proposed SC Law Would Allow Military Personnel Under 21 To Drink South Carolina State Representative Fletcher Smith believes that those who are willing to die for this country should be allowed to drink in this country. Rep. Smith is sponsoring House Bill 4274 that would allow military personnel under the age of 21 to buy and consume alcohol in the state. If this bill is passed, the federal government has threatened to cut off funding for highways to South Carolina. Katie Crawford, Live 5 News http://www.live5news.com/ 1/31/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Frustration Over Liquor Laws Brewing Business owners, delegates and consumers across America are overturning antiquated liquor laws, many of which were established in the 1930s. For example, a Virginia delegate is working to repeal a law banning the mix of distilled spirits and wine after a Spanish restaurant was cited for selling sangria. In Wisconsin, the assembly committee voted to repeal a law that makes it illegal for any local elected officials to own businesses that sell products or services to liquor license holders. Meanwhile, Idaho lawmakers are trying to repeal a law that prohibits the sales of alcohol during election day – a law that applied during the 1930s when saloons served as polling places. Andrea Stone, USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/ 1/26/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Booze Plan: Higher Alcohol Content, Higher Price The University of Victoria’s Centre for Addictions Research in British Columbia has proposed changing the price of alcohol to reflect the alcohol content. The centre’s aim is to promote healthier choices and reduce the potential for social harm. However, small brewery owners feel that they should not compromise the taste and quality of their premium, full flavored brews, which tend to have higher alcohol content, in order to compete with the prices of lower-strength brews. Larger brewery companies are not likely to be as affected due to their prior popularity. Michael Kane mkane@png.canwest.com, The Vancouver Sun http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/index.html 1/24/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Supermarkets Undermining Pubs’ Responsible Drinking Efforts Bars and pubs have expressed opposition to the low alcohol prices of four major supermarkets in the UK. They consider the low price points to be contrary to their efforts to facilitate responsible drinking and further, many are concerned that customers will arrive already intoxicated to licensed venues. Chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) said that companies should reconsider the price to promote responsible consumption. Christopher Walton christopher.walton@rbi.co.uk, Caterer Search http://www.caterersearch.com/Home/Default.aspx 1/9/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Hospitality Trade Body Calls On Government To Ban Cheap Supermarket Booze In England, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) is requesting that the government impose a ban on below-cost off-trade alcohol sold in supermarkets. ALMR also wants a reduction in licensing hours of supermarkets as well as clear reference to off-trade promotions in industry-wide guidance on alcohol sales. ALMR chief executive Nick Bish feels that the government “must do more to encourage all industry sectors to adopt a more responsible approach to alcohol retailing.” Christopher Walton, Caterer Search http://www.caterersearch.com/Home/Default.aspx 1/9/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Spreading Blame For Officer’s Death The family of Lt. Corey Dahlem is pursuing a civil trial against the three bars that a drunk driver patronized the night he fatally struck Dahlem while the officer was directing traffic in Florida. But unlike 38 other states, Florida does not have far-reaching laws that hold bars accountable for over-serving an adult. It would be difficult to establish liability and according to Brain Baggot, a Tampa lawyer who defends bars and taverns in liability cases, expanding liability law constitutes a slippery slope. Five years ago, two Florida lawmakers tried to close the liability loophole in the statute related to serving underage drinkers but the bills were opposed by the restaurant and alcohol industries. Jack Stripling Jack.Stripling@gvillesun.com, The Gainesville Sun http://www.gainesville.com/ 1/6/2008

View Full Listing  Link to Article Build This City On Rock And Roll In New Delhi, India, live music venues – particularly those catering to blues, rock, and salsa music – are booming in popularity. “I was astonished at how many people in Bombay know how to salsa, and know how to salsa well!” says Naresh Fernandes, Time OutIndia’s editor-in-chief. For years, India’s government banned live contemporary music, forcing contemporary music artists onto the fringes of India’s music culture. But these days, music of all types is being heard live all over New Delhi. Melissa A. Bell, Live Mint http://www.livemint.com 12/28/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Moore’s Restaurant Success More Than A Little Bit O’ Luck Rich Moore, owner of Shanahan’s Food & Spirits, was recently honored as 2007 Business of the Year in Woodbridge, Illinois. Moore, who had no restaurant or tavern experience before owning his current hospitality business, credits his success to his working-class childhood. “I think the main thing was [my family and I] learned to work together as a family while my single mother was raising us and working two jobs herself,” Moore says. Moore also says that he has no cooking or bartending skills, but he knows “how to hire good, talented people…who care bout their jobs and the people they serve.” Woodridge Reporter http://www.chicagosuburbannews.com 12/27/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article ’Black Paris Tours’ Looks At Love Affair Between Black Americans And City Of Light For centuries, black Americans and France have shared a mutual love and admiration. After all, the city, aside from being beautiful, plays a prominent role in black American history: William Wells Brown, a 19th-century abolitionist and former slave, had his first experiences with freedom and integration in the City of Light. Furthermore, Parisians have had a fascination for jazz ever since 200,000 black Americans arrived in France to fight in World War I. For this reason, many black Americans are taking tours, such as those presented by Black Paris Tours, in order explore Paris’s African-American history. The Canadian Press http://canadianpress.google.com 12/27/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article West Augusta Neighbors Want Nightclub Shut Down Club Dreams, a West Augusta, Georgia nightclub, has built up a reputation for being a problem club attracting “problem crowds.” Recently, there have been a string of crimes associated with the club, including fights and shoot-outs. Krish Dave, a concerned neighbor, says of the club, “It’s the root of all evil. Neighborhood has become unsafe. People are uncomfortable. They can’t sleep at night and there are a lot of problems.” However, others say that the city should punish the individuals committing the crimes rather than penalizing businesses for something they have no control over. Navideh Forghani nforghani@nbcaugusta.com, NBC Augusta.com http://www.nbcaugusta.com 12/27/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Smoking Lounges Ready To Fill A Loophole Beginning January 1st, smoking is banned in all of Illinois’ public places, but at Canganchos, smoking will remain perfectly legal. A loophole in the new law allows smoking in retail tobacco stores where “at least 80 percent of gross income comes from the sale of tobacco or tobacco-related products.” For this reason, Canganchos, a smoking store, is profiting from the new ban. Outside of the store, a chalkboard reads: "One of the few remaining places in Chicago where you can smoke & coffee is under a buck." Robert Mitchum, The Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com 12/27/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Ban Helps More Smokers Quit Habit According to Stop Smoking Wales, a government service aimed at helping Welsh smokers quit, there has been a 20% increase in smokers wanting to quit since Wales banned smoking in public places last April. However, “a quarter of adults in Wales still smoke - more than the UK average - and children are taking up the habit around the age of 12,” says Dr. Tony Jewell, Wales’ chief medical officer. Dr. Jewell hopes to see smoking decline to 17% prevalence, “as has already been achieved in Sweden and California.” BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk 12/27/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Teen Drinking, Anger A Bad Mix According to Lori Palen, a Pennsylvania State University researcher, over 75% of high school seniors have experimented with alcohol. Teen drinking is harmful, as teens’ brains are more sensitive to alcohol’s effects; however, according to Palen, some forms of teen drinking are more likely to develop into problematic habits than others. For instance, teens that drink in order to deal with anger and frustration are more likely to develop problematic drinking habits, such as drinking during school hours and getting drunk frequently. Kathleen Fackelmann, USA Today http://www.usatoday.com 12/26/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Scottish Government To Put Anti-Drunk Driving Ads In Video Games In an attempt to curb increasing rates of drunk driving, the Scottish government is using an innovative approach: $20,000 will be invested in anti-drunk driving virtual billboards, which will be placed in video games. Stuart Stevenson, Scotland’s Transport Minister, says of the new public service, “The technology is non-intrusive, subtle, but the message can be seen in the background, loud and clear.” Stephany, Gaming Today http://news.filefront.com 12/26/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Let’s Raise A Glass To Fairness These days, high-quality and inexpensive wine can be found all around the world, thanks to globalization. Low alcohol taxes are another factor contributing to the accessibility of good wine. Federal taxes on wine ($1.07 per gallon) haven’t increased since the early 1990s – therefore, when taking inflation into account, alcohol taxes are now 33% lower than they were in 1992. Regrettably, because of these low taxes, societies are “subsidizing alcohol”; after all, the negative societal costs of alcohol consumption are not being covered by current alcohol taxation, says Philip Cook, a Duke University economist. David Leonhardt leonhardt@nytimes.com, The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com 12/26/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Rebuilding Process Of Several New Orleans Housing Developments Approved The New Orleans City Council recently decided to rebuild several public housing developments in the hurricane-torn city. As a result, two non-profit organizations, Providence and Enterprise, will redevelop the Lafitte public housing development. The new development will include 600 homes for first-time homebuyers and 900 subsidized rental units. Doris W. Koo, president and CEO of Enterprise Community Partners, said, “We listened to the residents who want to come back to a stronger, healthier community.” Providence and Enterprise look forward to creating safe and drug-free environments for returning New Orleans evacuees. Ayinde O. Chase, All Headline News http://www.allheadlinenews.com 12/25/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Industry Falters, Art Flourishes Even though Detroit’s car industry has lost steam, the city is currently experiencing an “entertainment and cultural revival,” complete with new casinos, a new symphony hall, and new sports stadiums. But most of all, the city has recently transformed an old Dodge dealership into the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD). This museum not only houses modern art, but is also a site for conferences and coffee-sipping workers and their laptops. Also, the museum often hosts music, particularly nighttime concerts. Many hope that this new, multifaceted museum will help revitalize Detroit. Stevenson Swanson, Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com 12/25/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Injured Man Said Bar Security Handcuffed, Kicked Him A 22-year old Des Moines man sustained moderate injuries after being caught in the middle of a bar fight. He contends that he was a mere spectator to the incident, yet the bar’s security guards kneed him in the back, kicked him repeatedly and forced him to the ground before handcuffing him. The report lists three witnesses to the incident, one of them being a security officer employed by the bar who helped take York inside to remove his handcuffs. Nigel Duara, DesMoines Register http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage 12/24/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Bar Watchdog Decries Budget Cut The Responsible Hospitality Edmonton, a bar watchdog group set up to control rowdiness around bars, has had its budget cut by $50,000. The initiative is based on a U.S. framework that brings together members of the community, such as city staff, police, bar owners and others to curb problems with late-night bars. Councilor Karen Leibovici thinks that the city needs to reevaluate the Responsible Hospitality initiative to give it even more value than it already encompasses. The panel focused on Whyte Avenue, where bars, businesses and residents are struggling to co-exist, but the initiative hopes to expand to other areas in the city as well. Susan Ruttan sruttan@thejournal.canwest.com, Edmonton Journal http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/index.html 12/22/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article For the Sake of Sake Once a beverage only found in fine Japanese restaurants, sake, a delicate and complex alcoholic beverage, is now appearing on the wine lists of many fine non-Japanese restaurants. Sake is making appearances in the wine sections of many mainstream supermarkets as well. After all, “Americans are becoming aware of the benefits of enjoying pure and natural sake: little to no hangover, no sulfites, half the acidity of wine — the perfect enhancement to a healthy lifestyle.” And like wine, sake can be paired with many dishes, including desserts, spicy entrees, seafood, and light beef dishes. Sabrina Huang Seeto, Asian Week http://www.asianweek.com 12/18/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Binge-Drinking Britons May Force Limits On Pub Hours Manchester, Britain’s "capital of excessive drinking," is amongst the growing number of cities in the UK that harbors the binge-drinking culture. Health officials are discovering that drinkers are getting younger and that women are abusing alcohol in record numbers. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is considering stopping late-night alcohol sales and reducing licensing hours in time for the holiday season. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair introduced the 24-hour license for alcohol to relax closing-time binging and to promote a café-style drinking culture. However, critics say that the license has only prolonged drinking sessions. The government is also considering taxes to halt alcohol consumption. Robin Stringer rstringer@bloomberg.net, Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/intro3.html 12/14/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Act Together For Sober Decisions A UK editiorial posits that the hospitality sector should be more proactive to curb binge-drinking. This remains a serious issue, despite the Licensing Act 2003’s attempt to decrease binge drinking through 24-hour licensing. The UK government is now considering a reduction in licensing hours. To further hinder demand for alcohol, the recently established Alcohol Health Alliance is trying to increase the alcohol tax by 10%. The two measures might not stop excessive alcohol consumption but if implemented, they may hurt the vitality and profitability of the hospitality industry. The editorial therefore suggests that the industry be proactive to subside the binge-drinking culture by setting up a working party to openly debate the issues amongst breweries, landlords and license holders. With all the stakeholders partaking in the decision making process, the author surmises that solutions can be made to combat binge drinking. Christopher Eddlestone, Caterer Search http://www.caterersearch.com/Home/Default.aspx 12/12/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Permitted: Stateside Lounge To Boogie Down There has been an ongoing debate in Santa Barbara over its dance permit policy. The city’s Ordinance Committee - which consists of City Council members - plans to revise and update municipal codes governing existing clubs with dance permits. Some changes will include limiting the number of dance permits handed out, requiring annual renewal of the permit with a premise inspection, and requiring criminal background checks for club owners. Caitlin Daniel, The Santa Barbara Independent http://www.independent.com/ 12/11/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Sidewalks Won’t Get You Too Far In Dallas The Dallas area ranks amongst the lowest in a study that identifies urban communities where walking is encouraged through city planning. The study finds that the Dallas-Fort Worth region still favors a car-dominated suburban lifestyle. But empty nesters, young professionals and immigrants are all looking for urban dwelling areas which coincide with the government’s new agenda to gentrify sprawl and malls with a more concentrated mix of housing and retail. Uptown Dallas, the article asserts, has the right mix because it consist of apartments and retail where residents can get their meals and errands done within a short walk. One resident admits, “I’d hate to give up that convenience.” Theodore Kim tkim@dallasnews.com, The Dallas Morning News http://www.dallasnews.com/ 12/11/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article University Of New Mexico Notifies Parents After First Offense Of Underage Drinking Officials at the University of New Mexico plan to notify parents early on about their children’s underage drinking. Previously, parents were notified if students were caught twice with alcohol on campus. With the new policy, students are given an opportunity for a hearing and if they are found guilty of violating campus policy on alcohol, they will have to attend a workshop in addition to being subject to parental notification. The workshops are in place to help students identify the severity of their alcohol use and provide them with campus resources such as the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention and Counseling and Therapy Services. UNM officials have not assessed the success of the program yet. Stephanie Krenrich, The Albuquerque Tribune http://www.abqtrib.com/ 12/11/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Chance To Kill This Title: SIN CITY The Executive Director of the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement District posted a blog to rally the citizens of Windsor, Canada to speak out in the next city council meeting to prohibit bars, clubs and massage parlors from operating between the hours of 3 and 5 am. She considers after hour bars to be a danger to public safety and a contributor to the negative perception of downtown because 90% of all downtown shootings and knifings take place after 3am. Secondly, she asserts that downtown retail would be more inclined to start opening shop if a buffer was created between the night and day clientele. She prefers the term “split use” over “mixed use” because “nightclubs, retail and office do not mix well,” she comments. However, she does make note that her intention is not to curtail the nightclub industry, but rather to manage it more responsibly through the help of the local Hospitality Resource Panel. She believes that, “Action can happen if the citizens of our city demand it.” Judith Veresuk, Blogspot: Scale Down Windsor http://scaledownwindsor.blogspot.com/ 12/6/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Ignition Interlocks: Turn The Key And Blow The kicked-up, high-tech ignition interlock is ready to combat impaired drivers. The device can be set to a certain BAC level and when the offender wants to start the car, he or she has to blow into the breathalyzer tube. If the ignition interlock detects a BAC level over the legal limit, the engine will not start. One of the advance features of the current ignition interlock over the old one is that it requires a periodical “rolling retest” while the car is running to stop offenders from drinking after starting the engine. Also, the ignition interlock records a violation on a data log once it detects above limit alcohol levels. Regular checkups are also required to make sure that the devices are properly calibrated and measuring alcohol accurately. Jeanne Mejeur, National Conference Of State Legislatures http://ncsl.org/index.htm 12/1/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Hospitality Association Australasian Winner The inaugural Australasian Not for Profit Network Awards named the Hospitality Association of New Zealand the winner of the Project of the Year Award for the HANZ Training Passport. This project aims to raise the standards of compliance and performance in the areas of responsible service of alcohol, food safety and customer service. In addition, the project is supported by the New Zealand Police, New Zealand Food Safety authority, ACC and the New Zealand Institute of Liquor Licensing Inspectors. Scoop http://www.scoop.co.nz/ 12/1/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article The Down Side Of Downtown Revival The revival of the new mixed-used district in Downtown Providence has become the source of conflict between bar and club owners and the high-end condo residents that have moved-in over the last few years. Condo residents are issuing complaints over loud music, food odors, and noise from bar patrons, however bar owners consider this to be the necessary price for urban living. Although the city wants to attract well-off, settled professionals who can afford to live in the center of the city’s cultural offerings, many have expressed concern that if Providence caters too much to the needs of downtown residents, the city will lose some of the edgy vibrancy that made it attractive in the first place. Daniel Barbarisi dbarbari@projo.com, The Providence Journal http://www.projo.com/ 11/29/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Hemet Officials Consider Noise Restrictions On Nightclubs In Hemet, California, officials are considering an ordinance to restrict noise in nightclubs. Hemet officials wish to address noise complaints from downtown residents and businesses while not deterring the city’s growing nightclub scene. Other neighboring cities have also enacted or considered noise abatement laws that address everything from loud parties to crowing roosters. Herbert Atienza hatienza@PE.com, The Press Enterprise http://www.pe.com/ 11/27/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article More Calls For Pubs To Pay For City-Centre Policing According to a senior police chief in West Yorkshire, UK, too many people have been drinking themselves to “oblivion” by binge drinking. He is calling for hospitality businesses to contribute to the cost of city centre policing. He believes that pubs and nightclubs with licenses to serve alcohol after midnight should contribute more to the cost of policing, late buses and detoxification facilities, amongst other things. The debate to charge pubs and nightclubs extra continues as late-night businesses are fiercely opposed to the measure. Daniel Thomas Daniel.Thomas@rbi.co.uk, Caterer Search http://www.caterersearch.com/Home/Default.aspx 11/26/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Energy Drinks With Alcohol Attract Teens The line between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink beverages is becoming blurred as energy drink manufacturers now offer a new line of caffeinated energy drinks that contain alcohol. Brands such as Tilt, Rockstar 21, and Joose are sold in grocery, convenience and liquor stores, and are especially popular among young adults. Experts are concerned about the health impacts of such drinks. For example, a single can of alcohol-containing Joose is the equivalent of three beers and eight cups of coffee – a potentially lethal combination of a stimulant with a relaxant. Although it is illegal for minors to purchase alcoholic drinks, there have been cases reported of cashiers unintentionally selling the drinks to minors due to confusion caused by the similar packaging of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of the energy drinks and the “hard-to-read” labels. Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com, The Acorn http://www.theacorn.com/ 11/15/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Rules Require Automatic Sprinklers In Clubs Massachusetts’ new fire sprinkler law goes into effect Thursday, November 22nd. The law, which was passed three years ago, was created in response to the 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island, which killed 100 concert-goers. All bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues with 100 seats or more will now be required to have automatic sprinkler systems. Venues that do not comply can be immediately shut down. Patrons of venues with sprinkler systems report that they feel much safer. Boston Channel http://www.thebostonchannel.com/index.html 11/15/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Memphis Developer John Elkington Expects To Get Financing To Break Ground On A Birmingham Entertainment District By Spring Memphis developer, John Elkington from Performa Entertainment Real Estate, expects to secure the funding necessary to start building a downtown Birmingham entertainment district by early spring. Performa, best known for the Beale Street development in Memphis, has been hired by the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex to build a district of nightclubs, restaurants and retail shops adjacent to its facilities. In addition, there are plans to open two hotels book-ending the district and a possible 40,000-seat arena as well as an expandable 55,000-seat and 57,500-seat dome. Roy Williams rwilliams@bhamnews.com, The Birmingham News http://www.al.com/ 11/15/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Sign Reads – Don’t Feed The Homeless In Downtown Cleveland, new signs have been posted urging people not to give money to panhandlers. The Downtown Cleveland Alliance, which solidly supports the project, based the program on a similar one in Philadelphia - which reduced its panhandling by 70 percent. Countering the common misconception that all panhandlers are homeless, the police department has reported that seventy percent of those arrested had suburban addresses. Individuals who would like to help the homeless can drop off donations at designated collection stations across downtown. MyFox Cleveland http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/ 11/14/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Rays On The Bay? The Tampa Bay Rays plan to build a $450 million downtown waterfront stadium. The state-of-the-art stadium, which will be built on the Al Lang Field site, will open in 2012 and hold 35,000 fans. However, this exciting stadium development faces some obstacles – the city is unlikely to fund the project and parking space may be too tight for the stadium’s crowds. Aaron Sharockman and Marc Topkin, St. Petersburg Times http://www.sptimes.com 11/10/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Security Focus: The Professional Face Of Door Security In the UK, “door security has entered a new era” due to new regulations: As of November 1st, every club, pub, and bar must hire only security staff registered with the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Licensees can check their door staff’s credentials by logging onto the SIA’s website. Not only are security employees being credentialed, but they also are being recognized for their hard work. Conflict Professional, a professional security staff organization, presents awards to outstanding security staff who have the “communication and interpersonal skills to actively improve the management of conflict among their peers.” Phil Mellows, The Publican http://www.thepublican.com 11/9/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Planners To Study Mecca That’s Atlanta Despite its notoriety as “the poster child for urban sprawl,” many city planners are looking to Atlanta as an example of “what worked, what didn’t and what might have been done differently,” says Phyllis Bleiweis, executive director of the Seaside Institute. After all, metropolitan Atlanta is working hard to correct its sprawl, which stretches into Alabama and almost to Tennessee. In particular, Atlanta planners are attempting to create communities that encourage residents to “mingle and walk to their destination or transit.” David Pendered, Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://www.ajc.com 11/9/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Exploding Bladders? Binge-Drinking Women Beware A recent U.K. study highlights yet another frightening consequence of binge-drinking – bladder rupture. Although bladder explosion is rare, Dr. Mohantha Dooldeniya says that recent cases are a sign of the times – women are drinking more than ever. After all, bladder rupture was previously only seen in binge-drinking males. According to a 1998 National Institutes of Health study, binge drinking costs the U.K.’s National Health Service the equivalent of $6 billion. In the U.S. the public health cost is over $148 billion per year. Dan Childs, ABC News http://www.abcnews.go.com 11/8/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Cape Town Tourism Gears Up For 2010 The South African city of Cape Town is preparing to use the 2010 World Cup as an opportunity to market itself as a business and tourism destination. Acting Chief Executive of CTRU (Cape Town’s official tourism marketing organization) Calvyn Gilfellan says, “We must use this opportunity to position our destination in such a way that those who will be visiting South Africa in 2010 visit the Western Cape and that they return soon for more, bringing with them their friends and family.” David Masango, BuaNews http://www.buanews.gov.za 10/31/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article South Africa: Tourism Sector to Recognise Service Excellence Tumaini Leshoai, the manager for South Africa Tourism Portfolio, is accepting nominations for South Africa’s best tourism businesses until January 4, 2008. Finalists will be invited to the Tourism Indaba. These nominations and awards serve to encourage businesses to put their best feet forward and enhance visitors’ experiences, thereby increasing return trips to South Africa. Pieter de Bruin, head of tourism at First National Bank, says, “Tourism is one of the most vital parts of the South African economy, and is one of the highest growth factors in the economy of the country. It adds to poverty alleviation and poverty reduction which is something we are very passionate about.” Michael Appel, AllAfrica.com http://allafrica.com/ 10/31/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Young Folks Police The Liquor Trade In Pennsylvania Police in Pennsylvania are conducting alcohol compliance checks utilizing undercover minors. The law that authorizes the compliance checks is set to expire at the end of this year and Bucks County Rep. Paul Clymer wants to extend it through 2012. Of all the checks that have been conducted since 2005, statistics show that in 44 percent of those checks, the minor was served alcohol despite the fact that Pennsylvania licenses for people under 21 are noticeably different from the usual license. However, law enforcement and The Pennsylvania Tavern Association both agree that it is important to educate and train new establishments and managers on what to look for on an I.D. The Pennsylvania Tavern Association hopes that the extended program will help draw attention to businesses in the inner cities and college towns as well as state-owned liquor stores. Jennifer Reeger jreeger@tribweb.com, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/ 10/29/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Cameras For 4 a.m. Bars? In Chicago, bars licensed to sell alcohol until 4 a.m. are required by the City Council committee to install surveillance cameras, exterior lighting and hire “adequately trained” security personnel. The crackdown occurred in order to alleviate tension in the downtown area that is also one of the city’s fastest-growing residential areas. Safety issues are a big concern with the residents living nearby because there have been altercations, fights and vandalism outside the bars and nightclubs. As a result, employees and managers would be required to attend neighborhood CAPS (community policing) meetings to maintain communications with the neighborhood residents. Exterior safety plans from the venues are due by the beginning of next year but the city believes it is up to the business to determine what is the appropriate need for their particular size. Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times http://www.suntimes.com/index.html 10/24/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article New York’s Building Boom Continues The big city of New York continues to grow: Last year, the city spent $24.6 billion on construction - a new record. The New York Building Congress projects that the record will be topped in 2009; after all, the city is projected to spend $29 billion in development during that year. Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards project, the new Yankees and Mets stadiums, and the redevelopment of the World Trade Center are some of New York’s biggest projects. Furthermore, over 35,000 new apartments will be built this year. New York Public Radio http://www.wnyc.org 10/17/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Snorting Alcohol Can Be Fatal Some young people, in order to circumvent the ban on alcohol aerosolizers, are turning to snorting hard liquor. Snorting alcohol, otherwise known as a “Chilly Willy,” is a dangerous way to consume alcohol – it causes quicker and more powerful drunkenness, as the alcohol goes directly to the brain instead of being filtered by the liver. Unfortunately, many teens and young adults are snorting alcohol not only to get drunk faster, but also as a show of machismo. Karl B. Hille, The Baltimore Examiner http://www.examiner.com 10/17/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Brewing Up a Storm The city of Glasgow, Scotland has banned glass in nightclubs in order to keep patrons safe. Dr. Alasdair Forsyth, an expert on licensed trade and violence, says Scotland should ban glass in all nightclubs, restaurants, and even pubs – plastic should be used instead. Recent research has shown that violent injuries could be reduced by up to 100% by eliminating glass in venues; after all, the vast majority of injuries are caused by glass – even “safety” glass. However, not everyone agrees with such a ban. Some pub owners believe that such a ban is over the top. John McCann, Evening Times http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk 10/17/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Notorious Spirit Finds Its Way Back To Bars After having been banned for nearly a century, absinthe – an especially intense alcoholic spirit – is finding its way back into the U.S. A Swiss distiller, a Washington lawyer, and an importer have fought through a maze of federal regulations in order to get the liquor back on the menus of bars and restaurants. However, the concentration of wormwood, a plant containing the hallucinogenic chemical thujone, is limited to no more than 10 parts per million. Cindy Skrzycki, The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ 10/16/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Counter Revolution The 19th century Australian tradition of the counter meal -loads of beef, lamb, and vegetables served inside a pub-has contributed to the pub’s status as "the heart" of the community. Pubs that offered counter meals not only gave sustenance to pioneers, soldiers, workers, travelers and immigrants but they also provided a space for women and even children to socialize. When licenses were introduced to regulate the industry, more publicans increased their pub menus as a way of attracting costumers. But by the end of the 19th century, providing free counter lunches was making publicans broke so they decided as an industry to abolish the counter meal after World War I with the introduction of the Temperance Union. The counter meal made a come-back during the Depression as an act of benevolence by the publican. Currently, there are around 1500 Victorian pubs serving counter meals, though, there is now demand for vegetarian and gluten-free choices. Nina Rousseau, The Age http://theage.com.au 10/16/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Mexico’s Tequila Industry Battles Knockoffs According to the Lisbon Agreement, only liquor made from the blue agave can be called “tequila.” However, despite the agreement, there is a lot of knockoff tequila produced all over the world. Floriberto Miguel Cruz, chief of Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council, says that the production of phony tequila “endangers the consumer, the product and the image of the country.” After all, some of the phony tequilas may be dangerous – some are made in basements and garages and contaminated with cleansers or oils. Sometimes, bottles of paint thinner are sold as tequila. For this reason, the Tequila Regulatory Council is constantly working hard to track down fake tequila brands. Sergio Solache and Chris Hawley, USA Today http://www.usatoday.com 10/16/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Microsoft Pledges To Invest In City Centre Computer giant Microsoft plans to move into its new Scottish headquarters located in the Edinburgh city centre. Raymond O’ Hare, director of Microsoft Scotland, stated that the city centre was chosen over other possible locations in Scotland in order to boost Microsoft’s business by creating a more visible presence in a convenient location. The proximity to major banks and financial institutions and the opportunity for customers to experience nearby dining and retail amenities were major factors in relocating to the city centre. O’Hare also emphasized that the firm is committed to helping the city centre revitalize by contributing to the business improvement district scheme (BID). Michael Blackley mblackley@edinburghnews.com, Scotsman http://www.scotsman.com/ 10/15/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Business Booms: Latinas Opening Their Own Doors According to the U.S. Census figures, Latinas are starting their own businesses at six times the national average. A recent study by the Center for Women’s Business has found that Latina-owned businesses have increased by 121 percent since 1997. The greatest increases in Latina-owned businesses are in California, New Mexico, and Arizona. This increase in Latina-owned businesses “shows important cultural and economic shifts about how women are viewed as entrepreneurs. It also speaks to the reduced psychological and financial barriers for all women,” says Genoveva Lozada, a Milwaukee entrepreneur. Georgia Pabst, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel http://www.jsonline.com/ 10/15/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Sun Sets On Ibiza Clubs That Party After Dawn Ibiza is known for its all-night parties and prominent drug culture, both of which help attract 500,000 British vacationers each year. However, the island would like to attract more mainstream and “quality” tourism. Therefore, many of Ibiza’s clubs – particularly those open after 6 a.m. – are being required to close earlier in order to reduce crime and be more in line with “human biorhythms.” Jose Manuel Bar, the head of the council that runs Ibiza says, “Without after-hours clubs, there will be a fall in the drug-taking, a fall in the number of people going to the hospital suffering from overdoses and fewer arrests for possession of these [illegal] substances." Graham Keeley, The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk 10/15/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Green Mixed-Use Project With Musical Component Breaks Ground In Austin Stratus Properties and the Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund have just celebrated the groundbreaking Block 21, a 35-story, $260 million mixed-use development. The development will included 196 luxury condos, 250 hotel units, 47,000 square feet of retail space, a high-end spa, a signature restaurant, and a 2,200-seat music theater. Block 21 will also be “green,” as it will be built to the standards of U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. Block 21 is scheduled to be completed in 2010. Kelly Sheehan, Multi-Housing News http://www.multi-housingnews.com 10/15/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Nashville: Touring The Roots Of Country Music Nashville is known for its country-music culture; in fact, Pam Tillis describes the music city as “a giant incubator for musicians.” The Bluebird Café is the quintessential Nashville music venue: it’s an inexpensive venue showcasing some of the best country music talent for both local and visiting audiences. And the Bluebird is also known for having hosted famous musicians, such as Garth Brooks, before their break into fame. The Wildhorse Saloon, the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, and the Country Music Hall of Fame are also fantastic places to experience Nashville’s music – past and present. Tracey Teo, The Dallas Morning News http://www.dallasnews.com 10/14/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Intimate Music Venues Bring Crowds, New Life To Small Towns Because of the Crossroads Coffeehouse & Music Company, Winnsboro, Texas has experienced renewal in the past year. The intimate venue, which occupies a 100-year-old building, provides some truly wonderful live music on Saturday nights. According to John Whorff, a Winnsboro resident, “all of a sudden, we have heart and culture. The sidewalks don’t roll up at 5 o’clock in the evening.” In addition, Winnsboro’s sales tax revenue has increased by 80 percent. Because of Crossroads, many travel from Dallas to enjoy Winnsboro’s intimate venue and peaceful, small-town charm. Most of all, Crossroads patrons appreciate the fact that they can enjoy live music without walking through metal detectors, passing by stern bodyguards, or choking on billowing smoke. Michael Granberry mgranberry@dallasnews.com, The Dallas Morning News http://www.dallasnews.com 10/14/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Food Cop: Love Him Or Hate Him Michael Jacobson refers to himself as a “food detective”; after all, his job as executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CPSI) involves researching the nutrition of restaurant and grocery-store food while spreading an important message to Americans: much of what we eat is bad for us – too high in saturated fat and too low in nutrients. Jacobson is also responsible for putting pressure on restaurants to offer more healthful options. Steve Anderson, the former president of the National Restaurant Association, respects Jacobson’s message, but believes that most Americans are not willing to live the lifestyle Jacobson advocates. Rick Berman, the lobbyist for the Center for Consumer Freedom, says that CSPI “blackmails” companies and engages in “food terrorism,” as they “threaten companies with bad press unless they do something.” Kathryn Masterson, Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com 10/14/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Schools Using Breathalyzers To Fight Teen Drinking Thousands of American high schools are requiring students to blow into breathalyzers. Some schools require the test before events, such as dances and football games, while other schools test students randomly. Schools are using the breathalyzers to reduce underage drinking, especially since alcohol is the most abused substance among youth. However, not everyone thinks that it’s a good idea to have breathalyzers in high schools: Ben Stone of the Iowa American Civil Liberties Union warns that if schools test students without reasonable suspicion, they risk violating students’ rights. Wendy Koch, USA Today http://www.usatoday.com 10/14/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article 3 New Trolley Routes Proposed Scottsdale, Arizona is planning to add three new trolley routes. The trolleys, which will be free to ride, will connect riders to the Arizona State University campus, various bus routes, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping centers, and many other popular destinations. The project is projected to cost the city $400,000 to operate during the first six months. Jane Larson, The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com 10/13/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Wisconsin Ranks High For Responsible Drinkers Although Wisconsin leads the nation in binge drinking and the overall percentage of adult drinkers, it also ranks eighth in the nation in the percentage of responsible drinkers. Forty-five percent of Wisconsin adults reported that they consume some alcohol, but do not binge. A recent study also found that 31 percent of Wisconsin adults had not had a drink in the past month. Scott Milfred smilfred@madison.com, Wisconsin State Journal http://www.madison.com 10/13/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Music Business Hits Jackpot At Casinos Lately, the music industry is gaining big profits from casinos. “It used to be [that casinos were where] an older market went to have their entertainment fix,” says Tom Cantone, VP of sports and entertainment at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino. But these days, casinos attract a wide range of age groups with their offerings of live music, gambling, and other forms of entertainment. Casinos interested in attracting younger gamblers book top pop and rock musicians, such as Jennifer Lopez and Maroon 5. Older casino patrons can see classic musicians, such as Kenny Rogers. Mitchell Peters, Reuters http://www.reuters.com 10/13/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Australia’s Geelong Nightclubs Crack Down On Identity Cards It will soon be mandatory for all nightclubs in the city of Geelong, located in Victoria, Australia, to install electronic identification scanners as part of the local liquor accord, which must be adhered to by all licensed venues according to new state laws. The scanners to be used will store information such as photographs and license details in a database, which can later be accessed by staff. Daniel Breen, Geelong Advertiser http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/ 10/12/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Geelong Nightclubs Crackdown On Identity Cards The Australian city of Geelong is about to approve the introduction of IdEye machines in all of its night venues. The machines, which scan patrons’ driver’s licenses, store information, such as license details and photos. Darren Holroyd, president of the Nightlife Association, says that the scanners will help “identify and weed out troublemakers.” He also adds that those who complain about the scanners are likely those on the “banned list.” Daniel Breen, The Geelong Advertiser http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/ 10/12/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Support Grows For Lowering Drinking Age One of the United Kingdom’s top medical chiefs, Professor John Ashton, suggests that the UK’s drinking age be lowered to 16. After all, he says, “It’s better [that 16 year-olds] are inside in a pub with sanctions of normal behavior rather than outside in the park with no controls.” Ashton says that this approach is more pragmatic than merely insisting that 16 year olds not drink. The Publican http://www.thepublican.com 10/12/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article UA Out To Curb Student Drinking The University of Alabama, which has a reputation for being quite the “party school,” is requiring incoming freshman to take a three-hour alcohol education course. The course, which is called “AlcoholEdu,” surveys students’ alcohol knowledge. UA student Christin Blackburn says that the class is informative, but filled with a lot of information she already knew. Plus, she says, “I think other people who do drink aren’t going to stop because of this class. One short class isn’t going to change someone’s life.” UA’s administration, however, says that the required course can help reduce alcohol-related infractions and injuries. Katherine K. Lee, The Tuscaloosa News http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/ 10/11/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Health Ministry Can’t Cough Up Funds To Promote Smoking Ban Although Israel has recently enacted a ban on smoking in public places, few people know about it. The country’s Health Ministry is too short on money to launch a media campaign to the public. However, Ya’ir Amikam, director-general for information, says that “the wide publicity” of the ban “will bring about a significant drop in the number of smokers in public places, almost like a [state-funded publicity] campaign.” Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, The Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com 10/11/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Calabasas Considers Smoking Ban Inside Apartments The Calabasas, California City Council is debating whether or not to extend its smoking ban to apartments. After all, some of the council believes that the ban is necessary in order to preserve the health of all apartment residents. Other council members think that the ban would “overstep boundaries.” The smoking ban would not only cover apartments, but also patios and balconies. Residents who currently smoke in their apartments would be allowed to continue, but new renters would not be allowed to light up indoors. Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com, The Acorn http://www.theacorn.com 10/11/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Meeting Of The Minds In Pittsburgh, some of the city’s best and brightest have formed a group called Café Scientifique, which meets at local bars and breweries. Cafe Scientifique is an informal lecture series that features physicists, surgeons, and climate change experts, and boosts a devoted base of followers from all walks of life as well as an international crowd. Although a popular concept world-wide, this Pittsburg group is one of the first organized in the US in 2004. The structure is loose; the founders discourage organized talks or anything overly academic to hinder the social aspects of the group. Reid Frazier, Pop City http://www.popcitymedia.com/default.aspx 10/10/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Glendale Undergoes Makeover In preparation for Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Arizona is sprucing itself up with millions of dollars of improvements. Twenty-five volunteers will participate in the Rock & Roll Paint-A-Thon, which is an event in which volunteers paint the homes of poor, elderly, or disabled city residents. Other beautification efforts include planting 41 welcome signs near Glendale’s entry points, launching a new pedestrian project, constructing a new park, and a landscaping project. City officials and residents hope that this city makeover will attract new business ventures. Carrie Watters, The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com 10/7/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Workers Attacked Over Smoke Ban England’s recently enacted smoking ban has inspired violence from some patrons of hospitality establishments. According to a survey of 5,000 employees, “One in ten hospitality workers have been attacked by customers after asking them to stop smoking.” However, despite the violence, 80 percent of England’s hospitality workers feel healthier and are much happier at work due to the ban. Jane Lavender, This Is Lancanshire http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk 10/6/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article SBA Claims Progress On Women-Owned Business Program The Small Business Association recently announced that it plans to help women-owned businesses gain more government contracts. In order to do so, the SBA plans to implement necessary program changes in order to reach the goal of allotting five percent of contracting dollars to women-owned businesses. However, Margot Dorfman, CEO of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, is skeptical. In regards to the SBA’s direction, she said, “The Small Business Administration has shown a lack of commitment to the women’s program that this very committee has designed. It has been nearly seven years, and it looks like it’ll be more than seven years.” Elizabeth Newell enewell@govexec.com, Government Executive http://www.govexec.com 10/5/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Mapping The Future Of Urban Sprawl Dave Theobald, a professor of geography at Colorado State University, has dedicated himself to carefully mapping suburban and exurban sprawl throughout the American West. After all, he is concerned that sprawl, if left unchecked, will consume the beautiful natural attributes of the western United States. Exurbs – developments in formerly rural areas – are especially problematic. According to Theobald, mega mansions and “ranchettes” tend to dominate the developments in exurbia; this type of “low-density development not only takes more land to house fewer people, but it produces disproportionate traffic, pollution and other problems.” Alan Prendergast alan.prendergast@westword.com, Denver Westword http://www.westword.com 10/4/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article California Governor Urged To Sign Restaurant Menu Bill Due to the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related illnesses, California Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier has co-authored SB 120, a bill requiring “chain restaurants with 15 or more locations to post calories beside each regular food item on their menu boards.” The new law would also require restaurants to post trans fat grams, calories, carbohydrates, sodium, and saturated fat grams on their hand-out menus. California Restaurant Association President Jot Condie says that the bill is a "‘feel-good Band-Aid’ that ignores the true issues behind obesity while punishing restaurants,” such as lifestyle choices and genetic disposition. Steven Harmon sharmon@cctimes.com, San Jose Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com 10/4/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Drivers Ages 21 To 34 Disproportionately Involved In Drunk-Driving Fatal Crashes According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers aged 21 to 34 “comprise a disproportionate share of fatal motor vehicle crashes in which at least one of the drivers was legally intoxicated.” This research suggests that directing drunk driving prevention efforts at this age group could prevent alcohol-related car crashes. Join Together http://www.jointogether.org/ 10/1/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article The New Me Generation According to new national studies and psychological research, today’s college graduates are not only smart, brash, arrogant, and self-entitled, but they are also “the upstarts at the office who put their feet on their desks, voice their opinions frequently and loudly at meetings, and always volunteer – nay, expect – to take charge of the most interesting projects.” This generation of young adults, which includes all people born after 1970 – is often called the “Entitlement Generation” due to their chutzpah and high self-esteem. Psychologists say that today’s generation of young adults and teens is more narcissistic than previous generations, mainly due to their Baby Boomer parents’ and teachers’ “daily regimen of praise and flattery.” Although many fear the narcissism of today’s young adults, confidence and brazen attitudes may be what ultimately revitalize the economy. Jake Halpern, The Boston Globe http://www.boston.com 9/30/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Transit Integral To City’s Growth Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s mayor-president, Kip Holden, would like his city to adopt a more transit-based approach to growth. After all, says Holden, the city needs to grow without increasing congestion and pollution. In fact, Baton Rouge is looking to Portland, Oregon for transportation inspiration. Portland, though it is the 29th-largest U.S. city, ranks number 11 in transit usage. Further, Portland’s passenger use of public transit is growing twice as quickly as the number of new cars being added to roads. For this reason, pollution is decreasing even though the local population is growing. Gary Perriloux, The Advocate http://www.2theadvocate.com 9/26/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Commuting Costs Add Up For Metro Detroiters According to a recent study, Detroit commuters spend more on car costs than commuters in nearly every other U.S. city – only Houston and Cleveland residents spend more. The study, which was conducted by the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, found that Michigan drivers spend $8,410 per year on their cars. A lack of public transportation options and pedestrian-unfriendly streets contribute significantly to the costs of commuting; after all, idling on gridlocked roads wastes large amounts of fuel. Darrell Hughes, Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com 9/26/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article After 104-Year Alcohol Ban, Conservative Michigan Town Grants Pizzeria Its 1st Liquor License For over 104 years, the small, conservative city of Zeeland, Michigan has forbidden the by-the-glass sale of wine and beer. However, things have recently changed: voters have approved the overturning of the alcohol sales ban. And the first restaurant to receive its liquor license will be Vitale’s Pizzeria. However, the vote was a close call – the law was overturned with a 1425 to 1385 vote. Many business leaders are happy about the elimination of the alcohol ban; after all, they hope that the legalization of liquor licenses will “help the city attract a fine-dining restaurant and spark new business activity downtown.” International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com 9/18/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Tradition Lost: NH Taverns Get Cleansed Opinion article decrying New Hampshire’s decision to ban smoking in all of its bars and restaurants: The smoking ban is “revoking an individual right and forcing universal conformity to the majority’s taste.” Furthermore, the writer claims the ban will take away the charm of historic New England taverns, such as The Strange Brew, which was once home to the revolutionaries who overthrew the British. Now that the smoking ban has been put into place, New Hampshire’s status as a “haven for those who like their liberty unfettered and their government restrained,” is at risk for becoming stuck in the shadow of big government. Union Leader http://www.unionleader.com 9/17/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Keeping Women Out of Nightclubs and Other Male Fantasies This editorial expresses amused indignation over attorney Roy Den Hollander’s recent lawsuit: Hollander is suing several nightclubs in order to outlaw ladies’ night admission and drinks. Hollander says, “I’m tired of having my rights violated and being treated as a second-class citizen.” This article’s author, however, insists that men should appreciate ladies’ night. He writes, “why in God’s name would any rational male do anything to stop more women from joining him in a bar?” Robert J. Elisberg, The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com 9/13/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Alcohol Education Should Start In Elementary School A recent University of Pittsburgh study has found that alcohol education should begin in fourth grade. After all, research shows that 10 percent of fourth graders have had more than a sip of alcohol in the past year. While this percentage is small, the percentage of children who consume alcohol doubles between the fourth and sixth grades and continues to climb thereafter. Not only does childhood drinking increase the chances of alcoholism in adulthood, it also increases risky behavior, such as drunk driving and unsafe sex. Therefore, starting alcohol education early could prevent a multitude of social ills. Reuters http://www.reuters.com 9/12/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Abandoned Storefronts Along Canal Street Get Facelift As New Orleans works to revitalize Canal Street, the city will soon affix donated graphic panels to the street’s vacant buildings, abandoned storefronts and boarded windows to mask the ongoing construction. City officials hope that these colorful panels, which showcase local culture, food and architecture, will make the heavily traveled thoroughfare more aesthetically pleasing to both residents and visitors, in addition to encouraging commercial investment. J White, The Times-Picayune http://www.nola.com/ 9/5/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Historic Saratoga Springs Enters the Mobile Marketing Age Saratoga, NY has launched a cutting edge mobile marketing program to promote downtown businesses during the height of its tourism season. Visitors simply send a text message from their mobile phone to receive coupons and special event invitation from participating restaurants, nightclubs and retail stores, including live music schedules. Tanya Petroff petroff@informz.com, Read Media http://www.readmedia.com/ 9/4/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article The Boroughs’ Riches, A Trolley Ride Away An excerpt from a report published by the Center for an Urban Future, this article discusses the opportunities and challenged associated with New York’s array of cultural trolleys. Although they offer a convenient and safe way for locals and tourists to explore cultural, arts, entertainment and shopping amenities in neighborhoods outside of Manhattan, trolley programs report low ridership due to unreliable and infrequent service. By limiting days of operation, trolleys such as the Bronx Culture Trolley and Flushing Town Hall’s Queens Jazz Trail Trolley have seen more success as they become hailed as special events. Tara Colton editor@citylimits.org, City Limits http://www.citylimits.org 9/4/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Do You Really Want A Job Where There’s No Life For Your Family? Edmonton, Alberta’s new art gallery, which is in the process of being built, may be a potential magnet for desperately needed potential workers. After all, the new gallery is “a part of the absolutely necessary social infrastructure…to attract and keep workers in [the] province,” says Tony Luppino, executive director of the new museum. After all, not only do people move where the jobs are, but they also move where they can have access to culture, recreation, and arts. However, Scott Hennig, an employee of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, expresses concern that the museum is under-funded. Hennig believes that given the province’s high inflation rate, government funding should be directed at core infrastructure projects instead of art galleries. Frank Landry frank.landry@sunmedia.ca, The Edmonton Sun http://www.edmontonsun.com 7/25/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Funky Jewish Music Festival Hits Israel Starting in late July, Israel will have its two-day International Festival of Jewish Music. The festival, which will be held in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, will celebrate Ashkenazi Jewish culture by featuring a variety of Jewish music including klezmer, Jewish funk, German Cabaret, electronic music, and Yiddish rock. Music will be performed in Yiddish, Russian, German, English, French, and Hebrew. YNet News http://www.ynetnews.com 7/22/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Nairobi Implements A Successful Public Ban On Smoking The Kenyan city of Nairobi has recently banned smoking in all public venues, including taverns, tourist sites, and restaurants. Those who violate the ban are subject to a 20,000 shilling fine (equivalent to $300 U.S. dollars) or six months in jail. First Councilor for Economic and Political Affairs, James Wakiaga, says local officials imposed the stiff fines to let the public know they mean serious business. Councilor Wakiaga says that the ban is important because it will help reduce the health problems caused by second-hand smoke. Howard Lesser, Voice of America (VOA) News http://www.voanews.com 7/20/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article The End Of Barroom Brawls: Study Shows Alcohol Can Reduce Aggression A recent University of Kentucky study has shown that alcohol may reduce aggression. The study, which compared the behavior of intoxicated men with sober men, found that the drunken subjects were less aggressive than the sober men when distracted from negative stimulus. This is because “the sober men were cognitively intact, so they would naturally attend to both provocations and distractions in the room, resulting in some low level of aggression.” However, when the study’s drunken subjects had no distractions, they were “predictably mean, exhibiting aggression towards their adversaries.” Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com 7/18/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Bar Owners Take A Good Approach In Dealing With Problem Drinkers Several Portsmouth, New Hampshire bar and restaurant owners are tired of being harassed and abused by drunks in their establishments. For that reason, Bethany Hayes, owner of T.J.’s, is forming the Downtown Hospitality Association. The organization will make sure that bar patrons are aware that “their money is not a license to over-imbibe and become abusive.” After all, rowdy and abusive drinkers, although rare, can have a negative impact on an establishment’s business. Furthermore, it is against the law for hospitality establishments to serve alcohol to intoxicated patrons. The Downtown Hospitality Association will have its first meeting on August 6th at Portsmouth City Hall. Foster’s Online http://www.fosters.com 7/16/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Nightclubs Take A Stab At Green Trend Gradually, the nighttime hospitality industry is becoming more earth-friendly. After all, the average night venue uses 140 times more energy than the average household. However, eco-friendly clubs offer everything from electricity-generating dance floors to low-energy LED lighting. And some venues are even made from recycled materials. John B., the owner of several Manhattan clubs, will soon open Greenhouse, a club that “is all about conserving.” It will feature a ceiling made of live plants and the feeling of “a glitzy nature preserve.” He, and many other green club owners, seek to provide clubs that are earth-friendly, but high-luxury. Kelli Kennedy, The Wilmington Star http://www.wilmingtonstar.com 7/16/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Skills strategy For London’s Hospitality Sector Launched By Mayor Ken Livingstone In preparation for the 2012 Olympics and the resulting millions of tourists, London will enact a new strategy – improving the quality of staff and customer service in the hospitality sector. In order to do so, People1st, a sector skills council responsible for the hospitality sector, has created a 10-point plan for the city’s hospitality industry. One aspect of the plan involves signing up hospitality employees to use the Skills Passport, a program allowing staff to “build up a record of their skills, experience and qualifications.” In addition, employers can access this database of employees’ skills and training education. Mike Berry mike.berry@rbi.co.uk, Personnel Today http://www.personneltoday.com 7/11/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Campuses Report Success In Efforts To Reduce Drinking Not only has binge-drinking decreased at California State University campuses, but there has also been a decrease in drunken driving, alcohol-related medical emergencies, and alcohol-related misconduct. CSU’s assistant vice-chancellor, Allison Jones, says that CSU’s anti-alcohol abuse program, which was implemented in 2000 after the alcohol-related death of a Cal State Chico student, is responsible for the decrease in alcohol-related problems. Tanya Schevitz tschevitz@sfchronicle.com, San Francisco Chronicle http://sfgate.com 7/10/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article In Smoking Ban Era, Patios A Hot Commodity Recently, Columbia, Missouri banned smoking inside of all commercial buildings; however, smokers are still allowed to light up on patios. As a result, many of Columbia’s residents believe that the ban is unfair to some bar owners. Joel Thiel, co-owner of Otto’s Corner Bar and Grill, says of the situation, “The ordinance that’s been passed just made the value of having a patio grow tenfold…the segment of the population now that wants to smoke and drink, they’ll find a patio. And those of us that don’t have one are out of luck.” And for this reason, many patio-less hospitality businesses are seeing their profits decrease. Thiel is currently collecting signatures in order to overturn the ordinance. T.J. Greaney tjgreaney@tribmail.com, Columbia Tribune http://www.columbiatribune.com 7/9/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Getting New York To Pipe Down Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s mayor, just passed a noise-control ordinance – the first “‘comprehensive overhaul’ of local noise legislation in 30 years.” The ordinance targets ice-cream trucks, nightclubs, and night-owl barking dogs. Fines range from $100 to thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the noise. For many of the city’s residents, this new law is welcome; after all, noise complaints have clogged the city’s non-emergency police line for ages. Then again, others are skeptical about the law’s effectiveness, since it will do nothing to quiet the noise of subways, tunnels, parks, and other uncontrollable ruckus. Josh Getlin josh.getlin@latimes.com, The Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com 7/9/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Clothes-Door Policy Against Violence Certain nightclubs have dress codes because they want “to deliver a certain kind of experience” to their patrons; however, other clubs are using dress codes to reduce violence, particularly among young men. In Edmonton, Alberta, some nightclubs, such as New City, disallow athletic clothing and “bling.” New City’s head of security, Jason Thompson, says that “a lot of people find that look intimidating because they associate with gangsters, guns, violence, drugs.” Further, he says, “Usually when these types come in [to the club], [other patrons] immediately leave because they’re freaked out or they start laughing at people and harassing them.” Interestingly, the club’s owner, Tabitha England, says that “grunge guys in their ripped jeans, the pompadours, [and] the cherry skirts” fit the accepted demographic of her club. Todd Babiak, Edmonton Journal http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/index.html 7/5/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Deafness Warning For Music Lovers The UK’s Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) has found that 90% of people aged 16-30 have signs of hearing damage after a night out. Nearly three-quarters of clubbers, 68% of gig-goers, and almost half of bar patrons have symptoms of hearing loss, including ringing in the ears and dullness of hearing. RNID is encouraging the UK’s government to educate young people about noise as a public health risk. RNID also recommends that the government set a recommended noise exposure level for those who go to music venues. BUPA http://www.bupa.co.uk 7/5/2007

View Full Listing  Link to Article Changing The Skyline Condo-hotels – high rise, privately owned condos that also double as a hotel – are usually popular in big cities but the idea is spreading to mid-size and small cities across the nation. While this can be economically beneficial to large destination cities, smaller towns are more resistant to development proposals. A developer in North Carolina who wants to build two hotels with condos received criticism from the local newspaper, which stated that the projects would negatively change the face of the downtown area. Proponents of smart growth argue that condo-hotels validate the idea that more Americans want an urban lifestyle. Vinnee Tong, The Associated Press http://www.ap.org/ 8/16/2006

View Full Listing  Link to Article At Schools, Less Tolerance For ‘Zero Tolerance’ The ‘Zero tolerance’ discipline policies that schools followed throughout the 90’s might be promoting misbehavior and signs show that they are steering more teens into the juvenile justice system. These policies were created to stop fights, drug use and violence on campus but experts at the American Psychological Association argues that the ‘one size fit all’ approach isn’t working. A student who brings aspirin to school and a student who brings cocaine to school are both grounds for suspension. Kids feel less sage and perform worse academically in schools with high suspension or expulsion rates. Marilyn Elias, USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/ 8/9/2006

View Full Listing  Link to Article Night Time Economy and Christian Presence People interested in the issue of community safety and the nighttime economy in Cardiff, Wales – club owners, social workers, police, local government officials and others – came to hear a presentation given by Sister Wendy Sanderson, the Church Army Evangelist who is licensed by the Bishop to work in the city centre’s clubland, ministering among the staff and 70,000 nighttime revelers who descend upon the city at weekends. Keith Kimber Cardiffstjohncity.admin@gmail.com, Edge of the Centre http://edgeofthecentre.blogspot.com/ 2/24/2006

View Full Listing  Link to Article Question of the Week Read the answers to NRN’s Question of the Week for the week of March 14, 2005: Do you operate any restaurants located in redeveloping inner-city areas? Nation’s Restaurant News http://www.nrn.com 3/14/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Drinking Game Can Be a Deadly Rite of Passage Young Americans who have waited years to legally consume an alcoholic beverage in their hometown bars often celebrate their arrival with a "power hour" at the midnight turnover to their 21st birthdays, attempting to drink 21 drinks in one hour. As legislators consider prohibiting young people from imbibing for an additional seven or eight hours, Americans from all walks of life voice their opinions on responsible hospitality and consumption. Kate Zernike, New York Times http://www.nytimes.com 3/12/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article There Goes the Neighborhood Tavern As Washington’s state liquor policies evolve, so must the nature of the hospitality industry. Business owners and patrons reflect on the changing times and tastes, and their effect on Seattle’s bars, restaurants, and especially taverns. Mike Lewis, Seattle Post-Intelligencer http://www.seattlepi.nwsource.com 3/10/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Youthquakes Shake Up Gray-Haired States According to census estimates released today a large number of families and immigrants are moving to popular retirement states such as Florida and Arizona. The states remain top retirement destinations, but they’re also among a handful that are gaining school-age residents. They also have some of the highest percentage increases in the number of people younger than 25. Haya & Paul El Nasser & Overberg, USA Today http://www.usatoday.com 3/10/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Liquor Industry Takes Wraps Off Its Review Board The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States releases a report today that reviews the rulings made on criticism of the content of liquor ads by its code reviews board this year. A major goal of the disclosure is to demonstrate to the public that industry self-regulation is sufficiently effective to ensure public satisfaction with liquor advertising. Stuart Elliot, New York Times http://www.nytimes.com 3/8/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Retaking Trenton’s riverfront The New Jersey State Department of Transportation has thrown its weight behind a $100 million plan to remake Route 29, and city and state officials are meeting privately with developers interested in large-scale waterfront projects. The project would support efforts to revitalize the city of Trenton, which has long been a ghost town after hours. Steve Chambers schambers@starledger.com, Star Ledger http://www.nj.com/news 3/7/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article A Bridge to Japan, Built on Casks of Sake Sake is one of the new enthusiasms in the ever-diversifying hospitality and tourism industries. American enthusiam for the Japanese rice-based alcohol is growing steadily, with increased consumption in the States and increased travel to Japan for dining and entertainment oriented tourism. Rachel Dodes, New York Times http://www.nytimes.com 3/6/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Moderation on Campus Menu Colby College is paving the"social norms" way for American universities to address young drinkers. The "social norms" movement calls for pushing moderation over abstinence in alcohol campaigns addressed towards young people. Colby’s new program, which offers beer or wine to 21+ students in campus dining halls on select Friday nights, is at the forefront of implementing this responsibility-oriented approach to alcohol education. Jenna Russell, The Boston Globe http://www.boston.com 3/4/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Judge Upholds Verdict Against Giants Stadium Vendor A state judge upheld the $105 million verdict against Giants Stadium concessionaire Aramark for selling beer to a drunken football fan who later caused an auto accident, leaving a young woman paralyzed. Chris Newmarker, New Jersey Star Ledger http://www.nj.com 3/4/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Group Offers Guidelines After Nightclub Fire, Inspections Sprinklers Should Be Required to Prevent Another Tragedy Fire-safety experts investigating the 2003 nightclub blaze in Rhode Island that killed 100 people reccommended Thursday that sprinklers be required in such venues and inspections be improved to prevent similar tragedies. The National Institute of Standards and Technology agreed with the findings and added some suggestions, including tighter rules on flammable materials used in nightclubs and improving exits, among other reccomendations. Brooke Donald, abcnews.com http://www.abcnews.com 3/3/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Austin to revisit smoking ban Like other ciites in the United States, Austin, Texas is rethinking its policy on smoking in Hospitality businesses such as bars, restaurants, and clubs. Austin Business Journal austin@bizjournals.com, BizJournals - Austin Business Journal http://www.bizjournals.com 2/28/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Alcohol Lobbyist Fighting GM Hospitality business owners are organizing nationally to oppose the neo-prohibitionist campaigns of MADD and the coporate support GM gives the anti-drunk driving organization. The group, called MADDatGM, charges that GM’s financial support is backing MADD’s efforts to criminalize social drinkers. Jeffrey McCracken, Free Press http://www.freep.com 2/24/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article For Restauranteurs, A Chilly Visit to the State Capitol This article details the annual Washingtton State Restaurant Association Meeting held on February 7th, 2005. The main topic of conversation were tax cuts for retaurant owners on two key regulations: the state’s minimum wage and a tax on soda pop syrup paid by fast food restaurants. Carol Tice, BizJournals - Puget Sound Business Journal http://www.bizjournals.com 2/21/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Bringing Diners to Downtown The article focuses on one restauranteur taken his established 24 hour Landmark Diner from the Buckhead area and franchising it into the different areas of Atlanta specifically the downtown district. The owner’s belief is that his brand of 24 hour diners will bring a safer and more lively impact to the downtown district of Atlanta. Mary Jane Credeur, BizJournals - Atlanta Business Chronicle http://www.bizjournals.com 2/21/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Smoke Signals The public debate about the proposed smoking ban in Philadelphia is reaching a fever pitch. In this Philadelphia Weekly article the focus of the smoking debate is turned onto thed opinions of the Philadelphia’s tavern/bar owners. Kate Kilpatrick editmail@philadelphiaweekly.com, Philadelphia Weekly http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com 2/16/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Booze, Sports: A Bad Mix Hospitality vendors in sports facilities are reminded by the conflation of the Superbowl and a January New Jersey jury verdict against New York Giants stadium concessionaire Aramark that responsible hospitality should be a priority at professional sports events. James Mosher, The Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com 2/9/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Visitors to Get a Taste of Local Bureaucracy Tourists in Mobile, Alabama, for the Senior Bowl are likely to be off-put by a policy requiring nightclub patrons to fill out membership applications, club owners charge. The hospitality community is responding by proposing a revision of existing policies to Mobile City Council. Everything Alabama http://www.al.com 1/28/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Senator Targets Drinking Issue A Connecticut State Senator is sponsoring legislation that would require entertainment venues that serve alcohol to obtain a police-issued permit before holding events that are open to minors, in the interest of reducing underage drinking in the state. The legislation was spurred by complaints of nightclubs in Danbury, CT, that are admitting underage persons. B.J. O’Brien, The Bethel Beacon http://www.bethelbeacon.com 1/21/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Prosecuting Mom and Dad Alternet.org continues the conversation about underage drinkers and "social host" laws in light of the charges brought against a New York couple after allowing teenagers to consume alcohol in their home on New Year’s Eve. Marsha Rosenbaum, Alternet http://www.alternet.org 1/19/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Local Coffee Shop Seeks Liquor License Indianapolis-based City Coffee & Tea is applying for a liquor license to retail beer and wine alongside their nonalcoholic beverages, reflecting a national trend towards the European-style multipurpose cafe. David Nosko, Indiana Daily Student http://www.idsnews.com 1/13/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Immigration Services stops accepting H-2B applications The H-2B visa program helps U.S. businesses with peak load, seasonal or intermittent needs. Businesses can temporarily beef up their workforces with temporary foreign laborers. The fear is since the Immigration Services are not accepting any more applicants, businesses with peak load, seasonal or intermittent needs will have trouble finding employment. Linda Busche, National Restaurant Association http://www.restaurant.org 1/4/2005

View Full Listing  Link to Article Partying with my Parents A resident of RHI home city Santa Cruz, California, reflects on the decisions parents are faced with when they accept the reality that teenagers today experiment with alcohol. Tony Newman, Alternet http://www.alternet.org 12/2/2004

View Full Listing  Link to Article All Night Long? The Future of the Evening Economy in England The Civic Trust is an independent national charity formed in England in 1957 that works with people to promote thriving towns and businesses. The organization networks communities, government and business to foster regeneration and local development. The Civic Trust, with support from England’s central government and private sector, and in association with the Central Cities Institute at the University of Westminster, is running a three-year research program to develop good practices in planning, developing, managing and controlling the evening and late night economies. In 2004 the program focuses on the roles of owners, operators, and managers of entertainments and attractions in managing the intersection of market trends and public policies with the day-to-day realities of making a living, providing entertainment, managing large numbers of people, and coping with problems that arise in this sector. “All Night Long: What is the Future for England’s Evening Economy?” is a conference being held November 23rd 2004 to examine this segments perceptions, experience, and role in creating successful evening destinations for the future. It is one of a series of events leading up to the “Delivering Sustainable Communities Summit” scheduled for early 2005 in Manchester. The conference acknowledges the time lag between shifting public, and specifically consumer behavior, with responses in research, legislation and public policy, as well as the growing awareness of the importance of a vibrant and safe after hours economy in the competitiveness of towns and cities and the potential role of this sector in the regeneration process. The conference acknowledges the ambiguity as to who is responsible for managing this new economic sector, and seeks to convene all parties with vested interest in its development to dialogue on increased demands on policing, waste management, travel, and other related issues. The conference will address several issues of utmost relevance to the ongoing work of the Responsible Hospitality Institute, including but not limited to the development of mixed-use business areas, the role of BIDs in supporting an evening economy, social responsibility in the entertainment and hospitality sector, the role of management training, the necessity of convergence of vested interests for problem resolution, and most importantly, the development of a safe and vibrant evening economy. The Civic Trust www.civictrust.org.uk 11/23/2004

View Full Listing  Link to Article Party of None A majority of states have implemented “social host” laws over the past decade, holding parents civilly and criminally liable for providing alcohol to minor guests who then cause a death or injury. 15 states have even stricter rules, holding adults accountable when they fail to halt underage drinking in their homes. Alison McConnell, Stateline.org www.alternet.org 10/19/2004

View Full Listing  Link to Article Poway bars might display warnings San Diego considers requiring businesses that serve alcohol to display posters warning customers of the dangers of drinking and driving. John Behrman, Union Tribune www.signonsandiego.com 10/16/2004

View Full Listing  Link to Article Generational Fork in the Road Younger generations’ emerging purchasing power is dictating the shape and form of the restaurant industry. Five factors are identified as primary in the shift of tastes: the conception of dining out as a social event, the social interaction with food servers, the popularity of colorful and creative cocktails, the integration of technology into the dining experience, and a focus on atmosphere over food quality. Howard Seftel, The Arizona Republic www.azcentral.com 9/12/2004

View Full Listing  Link to Article San Francisco’s Youth Get a Nightlife The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a new law permitting after-hours clubs with restaurant licenses and other alcohol-free events to apply for late-night permits. The passage will create late-night entertainment options for the 18-20 year old demographic. Adriel Hampton, San Francisco Examiner www.sfnlc.com 3/17/2004

View Full Listing  Link to Article Mid-Sized Cities Get Hip to Attract Young Professionals "Be hip and they will come" is the motto of a new movement in second-tier cities that have lost their best and brightest to more urbane centers such as San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Atlanta, Washington and Boston. Cincinnati presented as case study, exemplifying a need for cities to respond to the diversity and quality of life priorities of the new creative class. Haya El Nasser, USA Today www.usatoday.com 10/10/2003

View Full Listing  Link to Article Busted Bars Suing Underage Drinkers Bars caught serving underage patrons are attempting to turn the tables on their busted clientele, suing for damages incurred from loss of fines and loss or suspension of liquor licenses. C. Spencer Beggs, Fox News www.foxnews.com 7/29/2003

View Full Listing  Link to Article Do you Know the Way Out of San Jose With last call at 1:30am and music shutting off in the nightclubs 15 minutes later, the strategy is to evacuate downtown San Jose of its visiting population (on a good night between 7,000 and 10,000 people; on a bad night, between 3,000 and 5,000) by 2:15am. Streets are closed off, and traffic is diverted straight to the freeways; nightclub closings are staggered by five to 10 minutes to keep the crowd flowing. Bouncers are trained by the police to herd the exiting patrons off the streets and toward their cars (at the Cabana, bouncers use whistles to keep the herd moving); bright lights are shined on the dawdlers and any potential troublemakers; and parking lots and other trouble spots are monitored after the nightclubs are emptied. All this in a light-speed-like 20 minutes. From Wednesday nights to Saturday nights, Carabarin patrols as a ranking officer in the city’s downtown entertain-ment district. San Jose’s police department, unlike those of most cities in the country, sets aside and trains a group of police officers strictly for the purpose of managing the security needs of downtown’s night life. The strategy, one that any resident familiar with downtown cannot but help noticing, has been both criticized--mostly for its emphasis on police visibility and its closing-time procedures--and praised--for its apparent clockwork efficiency. Najeeb Hasan, MetroActive http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.03.03/cops-0327.html 7/4/2003

View Full Listing  Link to Article Policing of Entertainment Districts Commands New Attention Nationwide WITH THE BOMBING of a nightclub in Indonesia and public safety disasters at nightclubs in Rhode Island (after a pyrotechnic display gone awry) and in Chicago, the concept of ensuring the safety of the public in entertainment districts has become a hot topic within urban police departments. Different cities have been experimenting with different methods; some incorporate the club owners into the process while others depend mostly on city services. Najeeb Hasan, Metro Publishing Inc http://www.metronews.com/ 7/3/2003

View Full Listing  Link to Article Taverns and Drinking in Early America Peter Thompson, Oxford University lecturer in Early American History, reviews Sharon V. Salinger’s book about tavern-going in colonial America. The book documents the evolution of American legislation governing tavern houses, which the author posits to have "fostered racial and gender identities as well as contributing to an embryonic class consciousness." Peter Thompson, Institute of Historical Research http://www.history.ac.uk/welcome.html 5/1/2003

View Full Listing  Link to Article The Next Hot ’Hoods Downtown development brings skyrocketing residential property prices as districts become more attractive and trendy. As downtowns bring in sports arenas, restaurants, and coffee shops, desire to move into these environments grows. Examples given are San Diego, Washington D.C. and Portland. Miami and Dallas are cited as cities on the verge of becoming booming downtowns. Deshundra Jefferson, cnnmoney.com www.cnn

View Full Listing  Link to Article Atlanta City Council Addresses Entertainment District Security Council Member H. Lamar Willis has put forth a resolution to assemble a nineteen person taskforce that will "identify and resolve security issues found in entertainment districts located within the city of Atlanta." The resolution comprehensively acknowledges many of RHI’s primary concerns, including the importance of security in creating a safe and vibrant entertainment district, the rights of residents and patrons to safety, and the need for the public, private, and community sectors to work together to ensure safety in entertainment districts. Lamar Willis, City of Atlanta, Georgia www.lamarwillis.com

View Full Listing  Link to Article Las Vegas Mayor: Oscar B. Goodman Las Vegas’s reelected Mayor Goodman, who will serve through 2007, has a policy emphasis on downtown revitalization. "Downtown is the core of our city," he says. "Without a healthy inner core, the city will rot from the inside out." City of Las Vegas www.lasvegasnevada.gov

View Full Listing  Link to Article Doctors for Designated Driving Medical student and activist Howie Forman has founded Doctors for Designated Driving, a non-profit organization dedicated to working with all interested members of the hospitality industry to promote the use of designated drivers for the purposes of increasing public safety. Visit their webpage to learn more. Howie Forman, Doctors for Designated Driving http://www.dfdd.org/01aboutus.htm

View Full Listing  Link to Article Sonic Towns In a MSN City Guides special feature, a veteran writer showcases seven American cities ranging from southern hip hop in “Hotlanta” to psychedelic folk music in Vermont. These seven cities are the stomping grounds for American music in the making and home to the communities that help it thrive. Amanda Petrusich, MSN City Guides http://www.cityguides.msn.com

View Full Listing  Link to Article Bars Say Patrons Should Be More Responsible In Auckland, NZ the Hospitality Association is calling for changes to be made to the laws surrounding serving alcohol to an intoxicated person. The CEO of the Hospitality Association hopes tougher laws will prevent people from drinking before going to the bars, and enhance the reputations of hospitality establishments as fun, safe, and lively venues. News Talk ZB- New Zealand http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz

View Full Listing  Link to Article Tackling Violent Crime in the Night-Time Economy: Guidelines and Tactical Options The UK has found success in reducing nighttime violence by using a three-pronged approach – enacting enforcement, intervention, and prevention in licensed premises and public open spaces. Police use a variety of tactics, including patrolling high risk areas during peak times and using closed-circuit TV. In addition, police are using tactics to both stop offenders and protect victims, including enforcement of anti-social behavior orders and setting up pub- and club-watch organizations. Crime Reduction UK http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk

View Full Listing  Link to Article How Happy Is Your City? What makes us truly happy? Modern researchers have attempted to answer this question by using a variety of statistics and surveys to compile a list of eight factors that influence rates of happiness and depression. Many of these factors vary from city to city and region to region. One of the eight factors for happiness is good urban design because it facilitates social interaction. Further, the data strongly suggests that real community and real friendships are important keys to happiness. Lisa Farino, MSN http://www.msn.com/