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Keep clubs open until 6AM in Montreal…MC Mario’s new battle
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| Passskal |
So have you guys heard this in the news this week? MC Mario is in the spotlight these days because he is scheduled to get an hearing with the Alcohol and Gaming Comission which could lead to a temporary suspension of his liquor permit. Apparently there were 40 major violent incidents between 2005 and 2010: doormen assaulted with knifes, customers beat up by doormen, fights with projectiles such as bottles, chairs…and even gun shots.
In the French media, MC Mario defended himself by saying that most of the violence happened on the street after 3AM but yet he and his establishment were held accountable.
On the radio on Monday, he presented his case by comparing what happens on Crescent, de la Montagne and St-Laurent at 3AM to what happens after a hockey game during the playoffs. He says that the problem lies in the opening hours and claims that if we had a model like Europe where he could stop serving alcohol at 3AM but remain open until 5 or 6…it would solve the problem of masses causing trouble at 3AM.
We discussed it here before when Pat Legendre opened KLOC a few years ago and his attempt to close at 5am. It seems that MC Mario is giving this issue much more visibility this time and he seems serious with his goal to make this law go through.
What do you think? Personally, I think it would definitely solve part of the problem and it would be good for our city. People would get a chance to sober up before driving home and bars would make more money and pay more taxes. Montreal is unique, people go out really late here just like in Europe, so it seems like it would be a positive thing for our city. Such a law would further solidify our position as top North American party city.
Now on the other hand, I’m afraid this would have a negative impact on the After-hours business. They would need to really differentiate themselves to attract customers. Major bookings won’t be enough!
So because we’re in Quebec it probably won’t happened any time soon. We are not very good at making things happen here... Plus the city may think that this would increase drug consumption and the gangs presence in night clubs. Let’s see how this unfolds with MC Mario and the media involved. |
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| bryans05 |
This is how it works in Toronto.
Last call might be at 2am but a lot of clubs close anywhere between 3am and 7am. |
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| Adam420 |
| It's a no brainer to me. 3 AM comes and the clubs close yet people are still really jacked up and have a lot of energy. Makes sense to let them burn that energy in the club rather than outside on the street. Also to me, 10 - 6 is perfect, and it's something I've wanted to see for a while. |
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| Passskal |
| Have you been on St-Laurent lately on the weekend? The crowd got really young in the past couple of years and it often gets out of hand between 3 and 4. Not just violence but also people puking all over. |
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| Marcus007 |
they lost their liquor license?
are you sure?
cuz u was there sunday and they were serving booze.
Mario has a big point. The majority of problems happen outside of the club. Like that guy that died outside of Aria and everyone said blah blah blah he died in Aria. (I'm not talking about the hip hop room incident).
Clubs serve booze. Booze makes people do crazy things. Some people are good drunks, some people are bad drunks. This isn't the clubs fault. |
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| Spin Laden |
I can still see the clubs peetering out at 3 and 4, most patrons don't have staying power beyond that. Clubs would be pretty dead beyond 3AM and they would still have to pay staff for those extra hours.
I think the afters would still do well enough, the product is pretty distinctive from reg clubs but maybe the lineups would be lessened a bit but not by a whole lot, imo
Montreal and Toronto crowds are generally more civil, compared to overly aggressive Vancouver. |
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| Passskal |
| quote: | Originally posted by Marcus007
they lost their liquor license?
are you sure?
cuz u was there sunday and they were serving booze.
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it's not clear. Maybe it was suspended earlier. The audiences though, did start this week as per La Presse.
SOURCE |
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| Passskal |
| quote: | Originally posted by Spin Laden
I can still see the clubs peetering out at 3 and 4, most patrons don't have staying power beyond that. Clubs would be pretty dead beyond 3AM and they would still have to pay staff for those extra hours.
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You think? I don't know man, I think the clubs would find a way to serve alcohol at 2:59 to get people drinking until 4 and keep the party going. guys would try to pick up girls. I think some places would stay packed until 5.
If Mario suggests it it must be because he thinks there is a business opportunity there |
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| Adam420 |
| I was told that in some circumstances, clubs can serve alcohol after 3, just not sell it. i.e. bottle pre-sales. |
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| djmanu |
Why not a "bring your own Alcohol" afterhour ?
I don't see anything illegal if Circus allowed that :)
And for the previous posts, coming from Europe stop alcohol at 3 seemed crazy for me and close at 3 even more. |
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| Marcus007 |
closing at 5 would make much more sense
give ppl a chance to finish their booze + dance more... i really think clubs would b packed (most of the time) until 5
this would also give djs a longer time to play (which would b very cool if they only start 1230 etc)
but what would afterhours think of this? it would cut into their market |
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| Adam420 |
| I don't think clubs should open later. 10 is good. Yea Montrealers go out late but it'd be nice sometimes to see more support for opening acts. Also I think one benefit of having regular clubs close later is room for more DJs to participate in the scene and play out. |
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