Effects of Closing Down Bars Would Bring About - Essay Example

On the other hand, there are those who believe that actually lowering the drinking age to 16 would reduce drinking, as teenagers would be given more autonomy in controlling their drinking habits.

Some believe that bars corrupt the minds of the youth and bring down the standards of civil society. (Voas, et.al., 2002, p.286) There is also copious evidence to back the claim that habitual drinking is one of the major causes of liver failure among American citizens. If these claims are indeed true, then closing down bars would help improve morale and health standards in society. The rest of the essay will ascertain the likely effects that closing down bars would bring about. One of the problems that the closure of bars could lead to is Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI).

Bars serve as social settings where people can consume moderate quantities of liquor and still be able to drive their cars. Bartenders are also trained to keep an eye on patrons drinking excessively and persuade them to stop. In the absence of such a place, drinkers can lose track of their consumption levels and can easily become inebriated. This could prove dangerous if they happen to drive their car immediately after their binge. Law enforcement officers, upon intercepting drunk drivers can impose heavy fines and in extreme/chronic cases even revoke the driver’s license.

Moreover, bartenders are trained to spot and thwart underage patrons from being served. This control net to prevent underage drinking would also be eliminated with the closure of bars. A prominent cause of why bars are closed is the pressure from the anti-alcohol lobby. Also referred to as alcohol beverage control, this agency can impose heavy fines on bars found not to comply with government regulations. This is unfortunate, for often, the rules are heavily stacked against running bars. Another major reason why bars get shut down is due to the hefty fines imposed by alcohol beverage control.

The profitability of the business would be seriously brought into question upon a slew of fines. Special taxation provisions under commercial law could also make running bars an unviable proposition. (Jones et.al, 2009, p.34) There is no hard data to back the claim that the binge-drinking problem among the youth of the country would be reduced by the closing down of bars. Closing down bars does not mean that the problem of underage drinking would be brought under control. Evidence from the UK, where laws were passed to close down pubs, suggests otherwise.

Charlotte Raven, speaking about the ineffectiveness of licensing restrictions and bar closures, feels that “the whole notion of being "chucked out" by government edict at some arbitrary point in the evening feels undemocratic.” (Raven, 2005, p.30) Brewery companies that manufacture and supply bars across the country would also be adversely affected by the closing down of bars. Major alcoholic beverage companies make millions of dollars in profits each year, with a large percentage of the retail distribution happening via bars.

When the latter would be closed down this supply chain would be adversely affected, leading to significant losses for the companies until they find alternative ways of continuing supply. Once again, one would not see any long-term decline in drink consumption among the youth, as these companies find novel ways of advertising and marketing their products to the target consumer group. (Gunnell, 2005, p.20) More than being commercial retail outlets, bars have become an integral part of the American social experience. Upon the closure of bars, a key aspect of American popular culture would be altered.