© 2024 KVNF Public Radio
THE ROAD THAT GOT US HERE...
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Later Bar Hours On Tap At The Colorado Capitol

Barkeep and patrons enjoy an evening at a Denver establishment. A new bill at the statehouse is proposing extending closing times past 2 a.m.
Thomas Hawk
/
Flickr - Creative Commons
Barkeep and patrons enjoy an evening at a Denver establishment. A new bill at the statehouse is proposing extending closing times past 2 a.m.

Could closing time change for your local watering hole? That's a statehouse proposal under consideration, allowing Colorado communities to decide whether to extend bar hours. Some feel a change to the law could do more harm than good.

Bente Birkeland reports from the state capitol

Under the bill, cities and towns could allow bars to stay open as late as 4:30 in the morning. For supporters, the current 2 a.m. closing time is dangerous because it dumps thousands of people into the streets and behind the wheel at the same time.

“It’s more difficult for law enforcement to monitor those crowds, this could help monitor individuals who are driving away from the area,” said RepresentativeCrisantaDuran (D-Denver).

The bill would allow for staggered closings, meaning bars could close at 2, others at 3 or 4:30.

MarkBerzins, owner of Little Pub Company - a franchise of bars in the Denver metro - supports the proposal. He says staying open later would spread out the times when people would leave, making it easier for instance to catch a cab.

“I experience the fallout mainly in the form of taxi service,” saidBerzins. “I’m the parent of four kids, I have a couple of teenagers that drive and I worry all the time about drinking and driving. It’s really hard to give lip service - get a safe ride home and then you have patrons who can’t get a ride home. I guarantee 95% of them get in the car and drive home.”

Originally the bill would have allowed cities and towns to extend closing times to as late as 7 a.m. or roll back the hours. Shortening bar hours would be devastating to the restaurant industry though says the Colorado Restaurant Association's Sonia Riggs.

“For those hours to be reduced after significant investments could force restaurants to shut down,” said Riggs.

Nallens and the Pourhouse, just some of the bars found in close proximity in downtown Denver, pictured in October 2012.
Credit Adam Bruderer / Flickr - Creative Commons
/
Flickr - Creative Commons
Nallens and the Pourhouse, just some of the bars found in close proximity in downtown Denver, pictured in October 2012.

Public support for the change was mixed at a recent hearing. For downtown Denver residents like Ramona Martinez, extending bar hours will only make problems like blaring sirens between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. worse.

“Extending hours makes no sense because we don’t want to hear sirens, us old folks like to get up we don’t want to encounter people coming out of those establishments,” said Martinez.

Lawmakers like Representative TimDore(R-Elizabeth) also had questions about the additional hours.

“If we have staggered times are we looking at bar hopping when drunks are on the road?” askedDore. “What’s to say the problem won’t just be pushed to 4:30 a.m., is there some study that says people stop drinking earlier in the morning?”

As the only lawmaker on the house local government committee to vote against the bill,Dorethinks longer drinking hours will simply lead to moreDUIs. He doesn’t believe massive crowds exiting bars at the same time is a statewide problem.

“This is really a Denver issue,” saidDore. "We’re being asked to be Denver city council members. I’m not hearing concerns from other areas of the state.”

While cities and towns support the bill they say they’d prefer even more local control that would also allow for restricting hours. Several committee members said they weren’t sold on extending bar times, but they did feel it should be a local decision.

The measure now heads to the full house floor for debate. If the bill is approved and signed by GovernorHickenlooper, bill sponsor Representative Duran says she’s not sure how many Colorado communities would change closing times.

Copyright 2014 KUNC

Bente Birkeland
Bente Birkeland has been reporting on state legislative issues for KUNC and Rocky Mountain Community Radio since 2006. Originally, from Minnesota, Bente likes to hike and ski in her spare time. She keeps track of state politics throughout the year but is especially busy during the annual legislative session from January through early May.
Related Content