The Advisory Neighborhood Commission is in the process of protesting the alcohol policies for Rhino Bar and Pumphouse, specifically the bar’s all-you-can drink specials. Proponents say these specials promote binge drinking as well as encourage public rowdiness and unruly behavior in the community.
There is nothing illegal about “all-you-can drink specials,” so long as bouncers and bartenders are careful to ensure that underage drinking is not permitted. What the ANC is basically arguing is that students who consume large amounts of alcohol are more prone to engage in public behavior that the organization does not condone. This is not a very strong argument. Indeed the idea that legalized drinking should be regulated because it might lead to unruly behavior could be used to advocate shutting down all drinking establishments in the Georgetown area.
The ANC is trying to punish Rhino’s for the harmful effects that might arise from a legitimate market enterprise?selling alcohol to legal consumers. By that logic, it could also be argued that Washington, D.C. sports bars could be held liable if patrons leave their establishments and, after having just watched the Washington Redskins win their football game, go out and break store windows and cause a public disturbance. Of course, this is not to say that there is a direct correlation between watching sports and public rowdiness, but that is precisely the point: Drinking establishments, so long as they operate responsibly, cannot be blamed for the poor behavior of their patrons once they have left.
The ANC also claims that all-you-can-drink specials makes alcohol cheaper and thus encourages students to drink. But this argument unreasonably assumes that high prices would significantly discourage student drinking. The fact is, a large proportion of students will spend money to drink, so eliminating a few drinking specials isn’t an effective solution.
Restricting Rhino’s business practices, ANC Commissioner Justin Wagner (CAS ‘03) said, would further hurt business in Georgetown, which has already suffered as a result of the events of Sept. 11. The proceeds for one Rhino’s all-you-can-drink night went out to support victims of the attacks.
The ANC should push Georgetown drinking establishments, such as Rhino’s, to more vigorously enforce underage drinking policies. It should not, however, try and unnecessarily stop legal business operations.
