It Affects So Much More Than You Think
Many people are not concerned about this ordinance because they are only thinking of a particular type of business: like a restaurant that allows you to bring wine in. But this ordinance affects much, much more than just restaurants.
Who does it apply to:
But then we have "meeting room or association." These terms are so broad that they expand the reach of this ordinance is almost any space that is not residential or licensed for alcohol distribution.
And what happens if you violate any portion of this?
What does that mean in real life?
First, it is important to remember that the ordinance says that "No alcoholic liquor may be consumed" during the hours specified (after midnight during the week, after 1 AM on weekends). So, this is not last call. This is "stop drinking NOW" or face a $250 fine.
Wedding Receptions
It means that if someone rents a yacht club or other space for their wedding reception, they will have to stop right at 1 AM. Sure, many couples, especially older couples, pack it in earlier, but many cultures have celebrations that run late into the night, and it doesn't matter if you're at a formal facility or renting a farmer's barn. Once you rent it, it becomes commercial and could be considered a "meeting room."
New Years Eve
New Years Eve will fall on a Monday this year. That means that the curfew for drinking is midnight. If you are in any kind of commercial space, including your own office or store, drinking a glass of champagne after the ball drops could earn your a $250 fine.
Election Parties
Whatever party you are in, if you are politically active, then you may find yourself in your party HQ on election night waiting for the results. In some small races, the results are in quickly, but in larger races, the counting can last long into the night. No party is complete without celebratory or lamentory booze. But if you are in Groton, you better hope that the counting doesn't go past midnight, because you'll be violating the law if you drink any later.
Conferences
If you are fortunate enough to be in an industry that has high energy business conferences then you may be familiar with the concept of a "room party." After the long and educational hours in the function rooms, attendees will retire to various room parties, sometimes in hospitality suites. A regular hotel room is considered residential, but hospitality suites are a hybrid of function space and sleeping rooms. It is a space which is rented by the event planner similar to a function room but which follows the rules of a sleeping room. These rooms are used for "hospitality" which is a fancy word for food and drink that come from outside the hotel. If there is a room party in a such a hospitality suite, they would be in violation if they drink after the hours of the ordinance.
The restrictions on the hours of drinking could simply cause event organizers to choose to put their event in Stonington or New London, neither of which have such restrictive laws.
It has been suggested that the police have no interest in busting an election night party, but you know who loves to bust anything that a political party does? The other party! This creates the opportunity for one party to make this a big deal when it should be nothing.
It is also an embarrassment to our town. Many political HQ parties have people there from elsewhere in the state. To have to explain that no one can drink after midnight because of a local ordinance makes us sound backward and like a town living in another age.
But let me leave you with the most dramatic of nightmare scenarios:
Let us imagine that there is a financial firm in New York City. They are "Masters of the Universe" and make millions on CDOs, XYZs, and ABCs. The bosses decide to have a working retreat out in the country, and the Mystic Marriott makes an effective bid, capturing their business. After hours, they are having a enthusiastic celebration in a hospitality suite, and because they are like the guys from the movie Boiler Room, they are pretty high on themselves.
Maybe someone calls in a noise complaint or maybe an officer of the law just happens to be in the hotel. He approaches the party to ask them to keep it down. Thinking themselves bigshots, the finance guys mouth off to the cop. The officer has had just about enough of these big city big shots, and he knows just how to nail them.
They're drinking after hours in a "meeting room." Boom! Tickets for everyone!
These guys go back to New York with their tickets for drinking after hours. They share them on social media, talking about how ridiculous this silly little town is. It goes viral. Groton, Connecticut is conservative New England town where the town enforces a bedtime. No one does their research when it might get in the way of a good joke.
And Groton comes to be known across the nation as an example of excessive local regulation and absurd local laws.
But it's all worth it because, at least we... um... what's this ordinance supposed to solve again?
Who does it apply to:
any business facility, such as a dance hall, club, restaurant, lounge, meeting room or association, not licensed by the State of Connecticut Liquor Control Division"Dance hall, club, restaurant, lounge" is what one would expect this apply to. A restaurant that lets you bring in wine. An after hours lounge. Etc.
But then we have "meeting room or association." These terms are so broad that they expand the reach of this ordinance is almost any space that is not residential or licensed for alcohol distribution.
And what happens if you violate any portion of this?
Any person violating any provision of this section shall be subject to a fine of $250.00.
What does that mean in real life?
First, it is important to remember that the ordinance says that "No alcoholic liquor may be consumed" during the hours specified (after midnight during the week, after 1 AM on weekends). So, this is not last call. This is "stop drinking NOW" or face a $250 fine.
Wedding Receptions
It means that if someone rents a yacht club or other space for their wedding reception, they will have to stop right at 1 AM. Sure, many couples, especially older couples, pack it in earlier, but many cultures have celebrations that run late into the night, and it doesn't matter if you're at a formal facility or renting a farmer's barn. Once you rent it, it becomes commercial and could be considered a "meeting room."
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| Pictured: A violation of Groton's proposed ordinance. |
New Years Eve will fall on a Monday this year. That means that the curfew for drinking is midnight. If you are in any kind of commercial space, including your own office or store, drinking a glass of champagne after the ball drops could earn your a $250 fine.
Election Parties
Whatever party you are in, if you are politically active, then you may find yourself in your party HQ on election night waiting for the results. In some small races, the results are in quickly, but in larger races, the counting can last long into the night. No party is complete without celebratory or lamentory booze. But if you are in Groton, you better hope that the counting doesn't go past midnight, because you'll be violating the law if you drink any later.
Conferences
If you are fortunate enough to be in an industry that has high energy business conferences then you may be familiar with the concept of a "room party." After the long and educational hours in the function rooms, attendees will retire to various room parties, sometimes in hospitality suites. A regular hotel room is considered residential, but hospitality suites are a hybrid of function space and sleeping rooms. It is a space which is rented by the event planner similar to a function room but which follows the rules of a sleeping room. These rooms are used for "hospitality" which is a fancy word for food and drink that come from outside the hotel. If there is a room party in a such a hospitality suite, they would be in violation if they drink after the hours of the ordinance.
Nightmare Scenarios
What could this mean? I go to worst case scenarios because the justifications in favor of this ordinance are similarly speculative, so let's take a look at some entirely possible scenarios that would have negative ramifications for the town.The restrictions on the hours of drinking could simply cause event organizers to choose to put their event in Stonington or New London, neither of which have such restrictive laws.
It has been suggested that the police have no interest in busting an election night party, but you know who loves to bust anything that a political party does? The other party! This creates the opportunity for one party to make this a big deal when it should be nothing.
It is also an embarrassment to our town. Many political HQ parties have people there from elsewhere in the state. To have to explain that no one can drink after midnight because of a local ordinance makes us sound backward and like a town living in another age.
But let me leave you with the most dramatic of nightmare scenarios:
 |
| These guys don't take tell to being told what to do. |
Maybe someone calls in a noise complaint or maybe an officer of the law just happens to be in the hotel. He approaches the party to ask them to keep it down. Thinking themselves bigshots, the finance guys mouth off to the cop. The officer has had just about enough of these big city big shots, and he knows just how to nail them.
They're drinking after hours in a "meeting room." Boom! Tickets for everyone!
These guys go back to New York with their tickets for drinking after hours. They share them on social media, talking about how ridiculous this silly little town is. It goes viral. Groton, Connecticut is conservative New England town where the town enforces a bedtime. No one does their research when it might get in the way of a good joke.
And Groton comes to be known across the nation as an example of excessive local regulation and absurd local laws.
But it's all worth it because, at least we... um... what's this ordinance supposed to solve again?
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