At a time of economic recession, one would think politicians should be promoting business as much as possible. Minneapolis City Councilwoman Lisa Goodman, on the other hand, has decided now would be a good time to tackle the scourge of underage binge drinking by suggesting restrictions on 18+ events. According to City Pages, this would leave two options for venues around Minneapolis: “dry shows for the all-ages crowd or 21+ shows where the booze flows freely.”
Of course, this has left club owners and managers in outrage with John Barlow, managing partner at downtown Minneapolis’ newest event complex, Epic, claiming that they would "lose anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 per month and would close if this law goes into effect." Nevertheless, there are significant public health concerns amongst lawmakers in the city where last February the Public Health Advisory Committee failed to get the City Council to ban reckless drink promotions within Minneapolis. Goodman says “I just don't know how I can in good faith look at these public-health people and tell them we don't propagate youth access to alcohol when we allow 18-year-olds into bars where 21-year-olds can pass them alcohol. If I don't do something to address this now, I'm going to face something far more onerous."
Indeed, while the city would undoubtedly lose revenue if the law passes, there is also the impact on health services with drunkenness fueling violent behaviour and excessive alcohol consumption causing liver diseases. However, according to a Washington University School of Medicine study published this month, binge drinking is in decline. A student at the University of Minnesota, Parker Jones, reckons that there isn’t much of a problem with drinking inside clubs and asks "Why penalize the many of us who like to go out and hear good music because of a few people who would drink too much in any situation?"
Here at Tiny Mix Tapes we are also concerned about the impact of binge drinking on Minneapolis’ youth. This is why, with our famous Minneapolis resident Mr P, we are launching a campaign to ban alcohol at all concert venues and to instead make weed available for purchase. Think about it: no drunken fights, no liver problems, no wasted morons spoiling shows with their drunken antics... just young people, like, totally flippin’ out to some awesome music.
