A New Poll… Extended Drinking Hours In Washington, DC During Inauguration Week
It time for a new poll on The DC Traveler, but let’s recap the last poll. First, the last poll asked…
Will you be attending the Inauguration on January 20th in Washington DC?
Here’s the results:
- Yes, wouldn’t miss it!! – 32%
- No, I’ll watch it on TV. – 32%
- Planning on it, but still working on details – 18%
- I’m going to Disneyland, no crowds that day – 18%
So it looks like a good number of people who voted (50%), have plans to attend President-elect Obama’s Inauguration on January 20, 2009.
And here’s the new poll…. and in
Should Washington, DC officials allow restaurants, bars and night clubs to extend hours and serve alcohol until 5 a.m. during Inauguration Week?
For some background, the DC City Council approved emergency legislation (proposed by the local Restaurant Association of) to allow restaurants, bars and nightclubs to serve alcohol until 5:00 a.m. for the four days leading up to Inauguration Day.
Normally, establishments serving alcohol in Washington, DC must close at 2:00 a.m. on weekdays, and 3:00 a.m. on weekends.
The reports imply that the city council feels that extended drinking hours would encourage people to safely celebrate indoors, versus taking to the streets to celebrate.
Yet two U.S. senators (Diane Feinstein, CA-D, and Bob Bennett, UT-R) sent a letter to the city council and Mayor Fenty asking them to reverse the legislation. The DC police union also has reportedly been lukewarm on the concept, stating that the police will be stretched thin enough without bars and clubs remaining open an additional couple hours.
The Metro subway system will still close weekdays from midnight to 5:00 a.m., and between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m. on weekends, except on Inauguration Day, when it will run from 4:00 a.m. Monday until to 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.
So what do you think? Will keeping bars open three hours later add to party atmosphere, and keep the streets safer? Or will it have the opposite effect by reducing police protection citywide and increase the number of drunk drivers, fights and arrests in DC?
Cast your vote below and to the right —>
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2 Comments
I didn’t see the poll here, Jon. Could just be on my end, though.
Jackie
[...] little over a week ago, I posted a new poll on the The DC Traveler, regarding if people thought that the city should allow bars and restaurants to remain open until [...]