Shreveport Bar Hours could be potentially extended

In a recent development in Shreveport, Louisiana, the City Council is considering an ordinance that might extend the hours that bars are allowed to sell alcohol. A city council meeting held on Tuesday, witnessed a significant turnout of bar owners who express their concerns about the proposed extension.

Bar Owners express concerns

Most bar owners are apprehensive about the proposal to push back the bar timings by 2 hours, claiming it could adversely affect their business operations. Tim Huck, a bar owner, reflected the sentiments, saying, “I made a significant investment knowing the current operational hours. Pushing them back would cost me a good 2.5 hours.“

Bar owners also emphasized that the change in timings will likely impact the bars’ bottom line and could mean a reduction in employees’ pay. Trey Carter, a local bar owner explained, “The extra 14 hours our bars get to stay open currently, help us tremendously. This extension facilitates us to afford security, look after our employees, and ensure they make a living wage.“

Employee and customer apprehension

Carrie Dickinson, another bar owner further elaborated on the implications for the staff, “When our bartenders rely on tips and earn a mere $3-$5 an hour, the added hours could mean an extra couple of hundred dollars.” The proposed change is also causing worry among the customers, particularly the regulars who would be most affected.

Managers like Stacey Pelekakis, who operates Break-n-Run, voiced her concerns about the potential loss of regular customers, “On weekends especially, we have customers who stay till closing at 4 AM. Losing these customers could mean a significant revenue loss for our establishment and our employees.“

Ordinance Created For Safety

However, supporters of the new ordinance argue it was designed with an eye towards ensuring better public safety. Police Chief Wayne Smith explained that crimes of a violent nature tend to occur after 2 AM, making the extra patrol necessary.

Councilman Gary Brooks echoed this sentiment saying, “It is a daunting task for our police officers to patrol our city that has bars all the way from North Market to Pines Road to Monkhouse Drive open until 4 AM. The focus is not so much patrolling, but responding to call-outs.“

What happens next?

If passed, the ordinance would dictate non-downtown bars to stop serving alcohol by 2 AM, while downtown bars would have to close by 4 AM. However, the council has announced further discussions involving the bar owners and law enforcement at a future public safety meeting before making any final decisions.