ECSTASY USE SPURS SHIFT IN DENVER'S LIQUOR POLICY

Mar. 24, 2001 - Denver is changing its liquor license policy in an
effort to better fight the use of the drug Ecstasy in nightclubs, but
it may mean significantly fewer all-ages shows and serious economic
hardship for promoters of shows at local clubs.

As of April 15, Denver no longer will allow alcohol to be served
anywhere in clubs or small live-music venues where minors are
present, Helen Gonzales, director of excises and licenses, said
Friday. Since 1991, patrons younger than 21 have been allowed into
some clubs but were seated separately from adults who were served
alcohol. Holders of cabaret licenses will be officially notified by
Tuesday, Gonzales said.

Denver police Detective Michael Patrick said even though the change
targets the way alcohol policies are enforced, it's mainly a response
to two recent apparent drug-related deaths.

"This will make it easier for the club owners as well as the vice
bureau to go in and look for signs of drug use, and drug sales,
without also worrying about age requirements, service to intoxicated
persons, or all the other things that are involved with enforcing the
liquor code," Patrick said.

"This is going to allow us to enforce the law better, to supervise
the clubs better, and for the clubs to supervise their patrons so we
don't have persons who are exhibiting unusual behaviors, and then
having to make a guess as to whether it's alcohol-related or if it's
drug-related."

The Ecstasy-related death of Brittney Chambers last month and the
apparent drug-related death of teenager Jared Snyder last week has
the city searching for ways to curtail drug use in clubs. "Boredom
breeds drug use" But angry club promoters say they will be
economically crippled, and underage clubgoers bristled at the
likelihood of fewer shows and higher cover charges to make up for the
loss of alcohol sales.

"The kids will definitely suffer in the end," said Mike Barsch,
promoter of The Cat, a downtown live music venue friendly to all-ages
shows.

"If the city thinks they have a drug problem now, wait until the kids
have nowhere to go," he said. "In my eyes, boredom breeds drug use.
They're going to find other parties or underground settings to go to.
I think it makes it worse."

Barsch said he will have to pass on booking many bands for potential
all-ages shows because he won't be able to make enough money at the
door to offset the loss of alcohol sales. The result will be fewer
shows that young people will be allowed to see.

"I understand the severity of the drug problem, but one has
absolutely nothing to do with the other," he said.

Kelly Hayden, a 19-year-old University of Colorado student, called
the crackdown ridiculous.

"Sometimes the music is what keeps people out of trouble, especially
in high school," she said. "I know a lot of kids who are really into
music so they didn't have to be into drugs. If you take this venue
away from them, we're going to have nothing to do and then start
reverting to drinking and drugs."

Law Already In Place

Gonzales emphasized that this is a policy change, not a change in the
law, which has never allowed alcohol where minors are present in
clubs and small-music venues. "But there was a policy established in
the summer of 1991 that allowed for what was called a split premises,
where alcohol is served in one area and the underage patrons are kept
in another," she said.

Last week, the Ogden, the Azatlan and The Church had their mixed
all-ages privileges removed as punishment for various drug and
alcohol violations.

But as of April 15, Gonzales said, "we're eliminating that split
concept idea for everyone and going strictly by what the law allows.
Now, everyone will have to abide by the law as it is written."

Gonzales said she made her decision with the support of the mayor's office.

"It was a tough decision," she said. "I do care about our business
owners, and I do want them to be successful, but there's a right way
to be successful, and I don't think this policy is the right way."

Barsch called it hypocritical and punitive that the change applies to
small venues but not at larger places such as the Fillmore, where
underage patrons are allowed to freely mingle with over-21 patrons
because the capacity exceeds 2,000, and Red Rocks, which hosts events
like Rave on the Rocks.

And he said if you presume that Ecstasy dealers are predominantly
older than 21, the policy change will give them even greater access
to minors at dry, all-ages shows.

"This issue has nothing to do with us or the Bluebird or the Ogden or
any of the venues that host all-ages shows. It has to do with this
whole rave scene, and the way those people operate."

Owners' Fears Downplayed

Hayden said the city is overreacting, and that the current system works.

"There's no way you can get alcohol at these shows," she said. "It's
not like they're letting everyone mix together; they are always
separated. It's a perfectly safe, reasonable environment for kids to
go as an alternative to drinking and drugs."

Patrick said the change brings Denver in line with most other major
cities and said club owners won't necessarily see a drop in business.
He cited Rock Island as a club that has voluntarily complied with the
law as written, and it has thrived.

Hayden said she thinks the city is responding to what she calls
misguided media coverage of Chambers' death.

"What happened to Brittney Chambers was a tragedy, but the way the
media has responded to it is a tragedy as well," she said. "If they
wanted to do some good, they would be concentrating on prevention.''