Posted by altogringo on October 23, 2000 at 19:11:42:
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Found a few interesting paragraphs here, the last 2 mention the name of the president of a business group representing 350 business owners... Wonder where he stands in regard to la policia shaking down some of us upstanding monger folk for having done a Rev bar chica? The group, named not mentioned is made up of bar owners as well according to the article... ***************************************************** Baja weighs 2 a.m. cutoff for drinking in Tijuana TIJUANA – This year, in a move that shocked many of the tourists who frequent clubs on Avenida Revolucion, the city set a cutoff time of 2 a.m. for selling alcohol in most places. The rule was enforced for only a week or so before the taps were again flowing freely, as late as 5 a.m in some cases. As a result, some community groups in Tijuana are trying to get the state to do what the city couldn't – and they seem to have a willing ear. A committee of Baja California legislators is proposing changes to the alcohol laws, and one of their key considerations is the appropriate time for stopping sales of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages. They will make their decision with help from a poll taken by a researcher with the Autonomous University of Baja California, who is asking residents what they think is the best hour for last call to drink. Five local health and youth rehabilitation groups in Tijuana have decided to support a 2 a.m. cutoff, which they say is used in Mexicali, Ciudad Juarez and Guadalajara. They said stricter alcohol laws would help keep Tijuana's young people from abusing alcohol and would reduce the high public cost of alcohol-related emergencies. "We aren't against the bars; we just want moderation," said Guillermo Rangel Mendoza, director of the Centro Integracion Juvenil in Tijuana, a drug abuse prevention and treatment center. "Our motivation is to save lives." The groups marched from Avenida Revolucion to City Hall Monday morning to offer recommendations for tighter regulations on liquor sales. Most of their proposed rules are similar to U.S. practices. They want the state to require cities to notify residents of applications to sell alcohol, so communities can voice approval or disapproval. They want each city to set up a committee of representatives of social service groups and law enforcement agencies to discuss residents' concerns and make recommendations to city officials on alcohol-related problems. And they advocate stricter penalties for alcohol law violations, such as selling to minors. Sócrates Bastida Hernández, a state legislator who represents the Tijuana area, said most of the recommendations have already been put on paper by the committee reviewing the alcohol laws. "We are motivated by public security," he said. "There is a higher risk of problems, such as traffic accidents, with alcohol. "Many youth are starting to drink earlier and, if we give them these opportunities to drink, then we are contributing to them possibly ending up with a drinking problem sooner." Part of Tijuana's concern about alcohol use comes from the excessive drinking by some U.S. youths who come here to take advantage of Mexico's legal drinking age, 18. Continuing surveys by the National City-based Institute for Public Strategies indicate that, on average, nearly 400 drunken drivers head back into San Diego County from Mexico each Friday and Saturday night. The institute, which advocates policies to prevent alcohol and drug abuse, supports the Tijuana groups' efforts to bring attention to the problem at the state level. Others say cutting back the hours would not solve the problem. "If they want to get drunk, they will do it anyway," said Antonio Santillán, president of an association that represents businesses along Avenida Revolucion. The association of about 350 members, including owners of boutiques, restaurants, hotels and bars, has not taken a stand on the closing-time issue, Santillán said.
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