UL article -- NH Nightclubs & regulation -- Bill proposed

[Rosie the Riveter]

State House Dome: Nightclubs may get more regulation
By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief
11 hours, 4 minutes ago


REP. HECTOR VELEZ has had it with nightclub troubles. The Manchester lawmaker has proposed a bill that would set up roadblocks at bars for the under-21 crowd.

Velez wants to raise the age at which a person has to have a guardian or parent with them in a lounge or nightclub. Right now, no one under 18 gets in without a parent or guardian. Velez would make the age 21. He said that even if an underage drinker doesn't consume liquor while in a bar, just having one in the place is a recipe for trouble.

One complication in changing the law will be in defining a nightclub. If an establishment serves food, its owners could argue that it is a restaurant. A second change Velez wants would bring an immediate suspension of a liquor license once the Board of Mayor and Aldermen rescinds its signature on a local permit. The suspension will last through a State Liquor Commission hearing on license revocation within 10 days.

"They would never have gotten that license if it hadn't been for the vote of community leaders," Velez said. "This gives a town authority the ability, when they have an establishment that is not a good neighbor, to act right away."

He said the problem clubs "are just a select few."

Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta said Velez's bill is, overall, a good idea. His concern is that a change not interfere with operations at legitimate restaurants that serve liquor.

Still, the mayor thinks something needs to be done. "They are proliferating," he said of problem clubs, although two biggies -- Omega and Electra -- are gone through SLC and landlord action. A third Manchester club, Envy, had a hearing before the SLC and a decision on its license is pending.

[d_goddard]

I tried contacting Velez a few months ago. He was the organizer for a "Hispanic festival" and I wanted to buy a table for the NHLA to do some outreach. Since I speak a little Spanish, I figured I could build some bridges.

Velez never returned my calls or emails.
He earned an "INC" from the NHLA; he doesn't even show up at his "job" of elected State Rep to vote (which is probably good as I would guess he's a Statist at heart)

[Atlas]

Can someone please tell J. Winters to b-slap this Velez guy next time he sees him.

[Tyler Stearns]

[Velez] said that even if an underage drinker doesn't consume liquor while in a bar, just having one in the place is a recipe for trouble.

Innocent until proven guilty?  So even if us young'ns aren't breaking the law we will undoubtedly cause trouble.

[Lex]

It's obvious: Mr. Velez is against the children.

[Quantrill]

Maybe if a bunch of fights and disturbances start occuring at coffee shops, they can set up roadblocks and/or ban youngsters? 

Do these kids only cause trouble at nightclubs?  What about video arcades, bowling alleys etc...?   This guy sounds like a tool...

[Rosie the Riveter]

Maybe if a bunch of fights and disturbances start occuring at coffee shops, they can set up roadblocks and/or ban youngsters? 

Do these kids only cause trouble at nightclubs?  What about video arcades, bowling alleys etc...?   This guy sounds like a tool...

Well, from my experiece it's not the kids starting trouble. It's the drunk assholes reqardless of age...

[burnthebeautiful]

I'd argue that kids will cause less trouble in a nightclub than they will, say, roaming the streets. Bored teenagers = trouble.

[FTL_Ian]

I know, we should ban alcohol!   

[error]

I know, we should ban alcohol!   

No, we should ban teenagers!

[Tyler Stearns]

I know, we should ban alcohol!   

No, we should ban teenagers!

[CNHT]

I tried contacting Velez a few months ago. He was the organizer for a "Hispanic festival" and I wanted to buy a table for the NHLA to do some outreach. Since I speak a little Spanish, I figured I could build some bridges.

Velez never returned my calls or emails.
He earned an "INC" from the NHLA; he doesn't even show up at his "job" of elected State Rep to vote (which is probably good as I would guess he's a Statist at heart)

Well now that's what I call responsive government.

These folks never met an issue they did not want to regulate.

Just like the poor cop that was killed a while back, they started talking about all the violent crime in NH.
Well, they forgot to say the shooter was high and not even from NH...
The cop had never even drawn his gun....  :-(

But suddenly here was the case for gun control on everyone in NH...