The bill currently in the Arizona Legislature that would push the state's last call back to 2 a.m. fails to adequately address safety issues resulting from a later cutoff for alcohol sales.
Rep. Michele Reagan, R-Scottsdale, is sponsoring a bill that would change Arizona's last call from the current cutoff of 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. The bill has gained support in the Legislature and looks as if it may make it to the governor's desk.
Bars' closing time, which is currently 1:15 a.m., would be extended to 2:30 a.m. under the new law.
Though the bill adds an extra hour of drinking time for bar patrons, they only gain 15 additional minutes to sober up after closing. Because of this, it seems the bill focuses primarily on the financial benefits of the proposed change without taking the safety risk into account.
Reagan argues that the bill would boost Arizona's tourist economy by attracting more large business conventions. She also contends that giving bar patrons a half-hour between last call and closing time, rather than the current 15 minutes, would decrease the amount of drunken drivers.
Many bar owners agree. They claim the current 1 a.m. last call promotes binge drinking by forcing bar patrons to get drunk quicker.
But it's disingenuous to suggest that adding another hour of drinking time will result in Arizona's drinkers moderating their drinking. In reality, another hour of drinking time will likely result in simply another hour of drinking. This would make the streets less safe because it seems unreasonable to say that an additional 15 minutes of sobering up will counteract an added hour of imbibing.
Grounds exist for extending Arizona's drinking time - Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa are three of only four top-50 cities with a 1 a.m. last call. But if and when such a change is made, it should ensure a safety increase commensurate with the economic benefit.
If the Legislature wants to push back last call to 2 a.m., bar closing time should be later than 2:30 a.m. Bars should stay open later in order to ensure the safety of their own patrons.
More importantly, bars should stay open later to ensure the party the bill overlooks most - Arizona's non-drinkers - stays safe on the streets of the state, at any hour.
OPINIONS BOARD
Opinions are determined by the Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Shane Dale, Caitlin Hall, Saul Loeb, Jason Poreda, Justin St. Germain and Eliza Tebo.