California City Debates Midnight Alcohol Sales Ban to Combat Crime

Redlands, California, is considering a proposal to prohibit alcohol sales at local bars after midnight, an effort aimed at reducing the city's rising crime rates. The proposed ban would end alcohol service two hours before the state-mandated cutoff.

Redlands Police Deputy Chief of Operations Jeremy Floyd stated at a City Council meeting that the increase in crime over the past three years is connected to late-night alcohol sales. According to police figures, officers have responded to over 1,000 calls for service in recent years, encompassing issues from loitering and over-serving patrons to violent crimes such as assaults, robberies, shootings, and weapon violations.

"Over the last three years, we had 44 assault reports, 13 robberies and shootings and weapon violations," Carl Baker, a spokesperson for Redlands, told NBC LA.

However, the proposal has met with resistance from bar owners. Baron Bowman, who owns Redlands Underground Restaurant and Bar, expressed concerns that the ban would significantly impact his business, as many patrons visit after midnight. He argued that implementing such a ban would unfairly harm businesses.

"It’s not fair to put businesses out of business," Bowman told NBC LA. "People aren’t here to eat at midnight, typically. They go to Denny’s."

Police maintain that calls related to late-night alcohol consumption consume substantial resources, diverting attention from other emergencies. Bowman countered that many street disturbances are unrelated to bar operations, citing issues like public intoxication and fighting in parking areas as separate problems.

"People drinking out of liquor bottles and smoking blunts and fighting and smashing bottles in the parking garage," Bowman said. "If someone never comes to a bar, it’s not my responsibility if people are partying in the streets."

The city has not yet scheduled a vote on the proposal, and a full review is pending.