The Bill, SB635 by California Sen. Mark Leno to extend serving alcohol until 4a.m. puts profits for bars ahead of potential lives lost due to DWIs. Sen. Leno claims his bill “imposes nothing on anybody; it merely authorizes the opportunity.” The Senator is unaware of all the alcohol related problems London, England experienced after that city raised its closing hours from midnight to 4a.m.

Here in New YorkState, in towns and cities that have a 4a.m. closing policy there are endless stories in the media involving alcohol-related crimes after the bars close. Those municipalities have decided
to continue this destructive policy despite the enormous costs to society. If this bill passes, good luck with getting it repealed. If Sen. Leno is serious about the safety of his constituents, he should include a provision which would evaluate the 4a.m. policy to analyze the cost and impact onSan Francisco.

One of the reasons New York City manages its 4a.m. bar closing policy is that it has the infrastructure to offer transportation all over the city. Another amendment to this bill should be an increase to the public transportation hours to handle people coming out of the
bars at that hour.

Sen. Leno’s bill has to address the larger implications and issues beyond creating jobs and profits for businesses. There is plenty of data to suggestion that extending the hours of alcohol sales results in an increase in assaults and DWIs. There need to be some safe guards included to reduce the negative consequences of SB635. Without them this is a dangerous proposition for all Californians.