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Home My WebLink About11-29-16 Public Comment - K. Franklin - Bozeman TaproomEsteemed City Commissioners, As the parent of a kindergarten and 3rd grader attending Hawthorne school (and also a Pre- Kindergartner), I am concerned about the impact of a bar serving hard alcohol during school hours across the street from my children's school. I expect the Bozeman School District and City Commissioners to provide a safe learning environment for my children. Allowing a bar serving hard alcohol during school hours within 100 feet and visible from my children's classroom windows is unacceptable. Please deny the Taproom's request to the City for a conditional use permit for a full beverage license. Please also consider recommended guidelines for business operation during school hours. Granting such a permit clearly is not in the best interest of the Hawthorne children or the Bozeman community. Please see my specific concerns and suggested recommendations below. I've also attached a document outlining my concerns, relevant information, and specific recommendations. Thank you for your time and consideration-- I appreciate it. Feel free to contact me if you have questions, or would like to discuss any of this further. Sincerely, Katey T. Franklin, PhD, LCPC, NCC (406) 570-6056 Specific Concerns: Alcohol consumption at TapRoom’s during school hours, proximity and visibility of drinking behavior and establishment to Hawthorne Elementary School students Relevant Information Regarding Alcohol Consumption Position: Deny request to modify the conditional use permit for on-premise service of hard alcohol Recommendation(s): Suggested TapRoom accommodations to preserve the integrity of the learning environment at Hawthorne Elementary School --- Specific Concerns: • TapRoom is 100 feet away from Hawthorne Elementary School. Business opens and begins serving alcohol at 11 am daily during the school week and school hours. Rooftop bar and inside of bar (with large screen TV’s) visible to Hawthorne Elementary students from their classrooms • Unregulated alcohol consumption within close proximity and visibility of elementary school does not prioritize Bozeman’s children, community, or Bozeman’s student’s education • Integrity of learning environment- Unregulated presence of TapRoom and subsequent alcohol consumption during school hours compromises the learning environment as students are able to view the rooftop bar, hear loud music and widescreen TV’s tuned to sports channels, and exposed to alcohol consumption during school hours. School is to be a safe place for students to focus on learning and developing life skills to be a successful citizen and healthy human being. • Safety Concerns- o While school can regulate who comes into the school and may access Hawthorne Elementary students, there is no way for school to regulate patrons of TapRoom who have physical proximity and visibility of Hawthorne children. Children with Orders of Protection or conflicted relationships with adults may be triggered, traumatized, or fearful of seeing current/past perpetrators at visible establishment across the street. This will inhibit ability of students to focus on academics and integrate learning o Driving Under Influence- Safety of students crossing streets (Mendenhall and Rouse) during school hours and after school at pick-up. o Hawks Kids (after school CARES program)- students outside on playground from 3:30- 5:30. Safety of Driving Under Influence and parking on near Hawthorne. o Physical Environment Concerns- likely increase of broken glass, cigarette butts, vomit, and garbage on sidewalks and around establishment • Social Development of Students- unregulated visibility of daytime drinking behaviors has social impact on children’s development. As part of the socialization process, students may development positive or permissive attitudes toward drinking behaviors/alcohol consumption at a young age which may be antithetical to recommended alcohol consumption for adults. • Social/Emotional Development of Students- students may see their own parents/guardians or other student’s parents/guardians at rooftop bar or inside establishment. This may influence children’s self-esteem and how they think about and treat peers Relevant Information about Alcohol and Alcohol Consumption: Beer One drink = one 12-ounce beer. This is normal-strength beer (5% alcohol). Malt liquor ranges from 6-9% alcohol, so 12 ounces of malt liquor is approximately 1.5 drinks; 40 ounces of malt liquor is 4.5 drinks. Liquor One drink = 1.5 ounces of liquor (40% alcohol or 80 proof). This is how much whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila, brandy, cognac, etc. is in a measured mixed drink or in a standard-size shot glass. Remember that mixed drinks may not be measured and often contain far more than 1.5 ounces of alcohol. Grain alcohol (Everclear) is 95% alcohol or 190 proof and some rums like Bacardi 151 are 151 proof or 75% alcohol. These liquors are banned in many states because of their high alcohol content. Wine One drink = 5 ounces of standard wine (12% alcohol). This is most table wines: white, red, rose’̩, champagne. One drink = 3-4 ounces of fortified wine (17% alcohol). This is wine with 13% or more alcohol content, such as sherry or port. Alcohol Content Chart (The percent of alcohol in a drink) Light beer - 4% Regular beer - 6% (May vary) Wine cooler - 6% Dark beer - 8% Wines - 12-20% Amaretto - 28% Kahlua -28% Tequila - 40% Cognac - 40% Drambui - 40% Bourbon - 43% Whiskey - 43% Scotch - 43% Vodka - 43% Rum - 43% Gin - 43% Brandy - 43% Everclear - 95% What does "proof" mean? The "proof" of alcohol is the percentage of alcohol found in a beverage multiplied by 2. 100% alcohol would be 200 proof and vodka (approx. 43% alcohol) would be 86 Proof. Blood Alcohol Content (B.A.C.) refers to the percentage of alcohol in the bloodstream. The higher your B.A.C. is, the less control you have over your own body. Many things affect B.A.C., including height, weight, tolerance, gender, and presence of food/non-alcoholic drinks in the stomach. What happens at the various levels of B.A.C.? .02-.04 1 - 2 drinks, people begin to feel relaxed, happy, lowered inhibitions .04-.08 Impairment begins, poor coordination, reflexes, and muscle control, loss of self-control, and driving capability .08-.10 Legally drunk in almost all states and the District of Columbia .10-.15 Loss of balance, impaired movement, and slightly slurred speech .15-.25 Slurred speech, staggering, confusion, loss of perception (depth perception/double vision) .25-.40 Most people are in a state of stupor and barely conscious, some may die .40-.50+ Most people are unconscious, the respiratory system shuts off, and death is likely Some Differences between Beer/Wine and Liquor • Hard liquor drink often not 1.5 oz recommended serving size (without use of a “jigger” to serve hard alcohol o “A Drink is not a Drink”… One Long Island Ice Tea can have as much alcohol as 5-6 beers • Liquor is more potent (see chart above) • Men and Women process hard alcohol differently o Bodies generally process one serving of alcohol in one clock hour o Varies due to body mass, stomach emptiness/fullness, gender, and tolerance to alcohol • Liquor is often consumed more quickly o In this process (taking shots or consuming multiple hard liquor drinks in shorter period of time), individual’s bodies become alcohol saturated before they appear physically intoxicated or begin to feel effects of alcohol- see chart above o Phenomenon of “hitting a wall” or becoming black-out drunk (see below) • Consumption of hard alcohol is difficult to moderate and pace o More likely to become intoxicated • Black-outs occur more frequently with consumption of hard alcohol o What is a black-out? The effect is similar to anterograde amnesia in that the brain temporarily loses the ability to create new memories. Blackout sufferers still may be able to partake in spirited discussions or send late-night emails to former employers. What they won't be able to do is create memories of any of it. And of course, there's a dark side to all this. Blackouts tend to indicate a high level of intoxication, during which time drinkers don't exhibit their best judgment, raising the risk of dangerous behavior such as having unprotected sex or driving a car or violent behaviors. o Studies show a blackout's main culprit to be a fast, dramatic spike in blood alcohol content; they usually kick in at blood alcohol levels of at least 0.15 percent. That's roughly twice the legal limit for driving. And the trouble really begins when this BAC level is reached quickly. Recommendation: Deny TapRoom’s request to modify the conditional use permit for on-premise service of hard alcohol Recommendations for Tap Room: 1. Install dense screens on rooftop deck to block view of alcohol consumption during school hours- including HAWKS afterschool program (11:00 am – 5:30 pm) 2. Keep all garage doors on Rouse closed during school hours (11:00 am – 5:30 pm) 3. No music on roof top deck or outside speakers during school hours (11:00 am – 5:30 pm) 4. Alcohol deliveries (kegs) must park and be delivered through front door on Mendenhall 5. Clean all sidewalks each night and each morning to clear environment of garbage and filth