Halifax judge calls out downtown bars
Posted Sep 12, 2011 02:49:26 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Halifax Judge has some harsh words for downtown bars, saying incidents of fights outside establishments are evidence owners should reflect on how much alcohol they’re serving.
The statement was made while delivering his verdict with regards to a fight between two men in their twenties last February in the downtown that resulted in one of them suffering multiple skull fractures and brain swelling.
He says too many enjoyable evenings in downtown Halifax end in serious injuries as a result of intoxicated people.
Judge Kennedy’s comments that there are too many drunken people downtown when the bars close aren’t sitting well with the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia.
Executive Director Gordon Stewart calls the way Judge Kennedy paints the picture as unfortunate, and says the reality is different.
“Most of the bars are very responsible downtown; the alcohol and gaming inspectors are in there like crazy.”
He says the bigger issue is trying to catch fake IDs and keep underage drinkers out.
“Bars can’t afford to over-serve people because they get fined and get closed.”
Gordon adds drinks are getting more expensive and in fact overall sales are down because most drinking is going on outside of bars.
Owners are also taking preventative measures, according to Gordon.
“There are some bars if you’re caught over-drinking or are under aged you’re barred for life from that bar.”
He adds there’s also a new bar program that could be launched as early as the end of this month called PASS or the Patron Accountability Safe Service program.
“That simply means if you’re causing a problem, if you’re over drinking, or drunk or caused a fight or are caught under aged you’ll be banned from all bars downtown – period, that’s it, you’re gone, you’re out.”
In some cases, he explains, that could result in a lifetime ban.
He says the system isn’t broken down when it comes to monitoring, but rather it’s the justice system not punishing offenders.
“So you take someone that’s caught under aged drinking in the bar. The bar gets a fined and probably gets closed for the day of the week that person was caught in there,” he says. “The person that was caught under aged basically walks free.”
He says the case the judge was ruling on when he made the comments is a perfect example, because no one was found guilty in it.
Gordon adds people also need to take some responsibility. Besides being a designated driver, be a designated person and make sure friends aren’t over drinking because it’s usually friends who can curb that over the person behind the bar.
