meeting on this last week and couldn’t believe how quickly this was dismissed as something that
wouldn’t happen. | see it all the time and when I was younger ! did it myself. It’s going to
happen here if this passes.
With that said, the real threat to Nashua bars and restaurants is Manchester. They’ve got a
bustling downtown area filled with entertamment options, not to mention hotels (with 4 more
being built). It should also be noted that Manchester is fine with a LAM last call. Why is that?
Perhaps because they realize that the destination is more important than the closing time. People
aren’t going to stop going out in Manchester because Nashua extends last call, those that want to
keep the party going will just get here later. The best way to help Nashua businesses compete is
to focus on getting people here from Spm-i2am, by offering them things to do. Sumply giving
people longer to party isn’t going to open the Hoodgates for us.
That brings me to the largest concern we have, the unnecessary burden of lability placed
squarely on the shoulders of the servers and bartenders in the city. If an intoxicated person enters
our establishment, whether we serve that person or not, their safety immediately becomes our
responsibility. That responsibility is much easier to manage if that person has been at your
business and you know what they’ve consumed.
| was happy to hear the Chief mention additional training but the truth is that most
establishments already require staff to take courses offered by the liquor commission as well as
other alcoho! awareness classes. Those classes help, but if a person is walking in late-night after
bemg elsewhere it puts the server in the position of making a judgement call that can be
incredibly difficult. Adding an extra hour of party time only makes that decision more perilous
and makes the margin for error that much smaller.
It was aiso brought up ina Union Leader article as well as the committee meeting last week that
the city’s casinos would benefit from this, with it even being said at the meeting that they’d be
able to make more money from their charity gambling. This narrative is, again, incredibly
misleading. This wouldn’t change the times their gaming tables can operate, that’s set by the
state of New Hampshire. Easier way to actually help the casinos would be revisiting the sports
gambling proposal, but that’s obviously for a different conversation.
The last thing I’d like to touch on is the parking issue. | understand there is a separate bill
proposed to change the start time of the overnight parking ban and we appreciate the city trying
to look out for the employees downtown who rely on municipal spaces for parking. I’m sure all
of you understand the premise of that bill so | won’t rehash it here. What | will offer though is
that the overnight parking ban, as a policy, is completely antithetical to this extended last call
proposal. We’re asking people to come downtown, we’re offering to give them until 2AM to
consume alcohol, but we’re going to punish them by giving them a ticket for making the right
decision? If there’s not a weather emergency there shouldn’t be a parking ban downtown. While
I don’t expect anything to be done about the parking ban I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention
it.
Thank you for taking the time to read this note of concern and for considering our opinions on
these matters. Much like all of you, we want the best for downtown Nashua and it’s businesses.
We’re all in this together and we appreciate the efforts you put forward on our behalf.
John Plourde
Bar Manager
