If there's one good thing that came out of last week's New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department hearing-the one covering the proposal to ban all-ages shows from venues that receive over half their revenues from alcohol-it was that young kids showed up to participate in a governmental process.
In fact, the room was packed, with everyone from 15-year-old Warehouse 21 rockers to middle-aged UNM professors to Gov. Richardson's alcohol czar (a job which is probably much less fun than it sounds) Rachel O'Connor, who stood at the back of the room before briefly testifying in favor of the proposal.
The question up in front of the board was, just as it sounds, this: Should the state of New Mexico-across the board-ban all-ages events at venues whose liquor sales revenue comprises more than 50 percent of their profits?
In other words, night clubs, bars and smaller venues. Places like Isotopes Park, the Albuquerque Journal Pavilion and Tingley Coliseum would still allow booze and under-21s to mix. Places like the Launchpad, the El Rey Theater and the Sunshine Theater would be affected. If the proposition passes (the NMRLD has until early November to make a decision), any events (in this case, for all practical purposes, popular music concerts) at these and similar spots would be 21 and up. No exceptions.
This strikes me as particularly short-sighted and, well, senseless.
The idea has been touted as a way to cut down on teenage DWI incidents. Proponents also claim that the main reason people over 21 go to these venues is to drink. The idea is that alcohol is the main pull, the bands and performers are afterthoughts, and that exposing kids to that atmosphere "normalizes" alcohol use, therefore leading to an increased chance of their having future alcohol problems.
This first point is such blatant political pandering it's enough to make me want to go screaming out into the street. Several of the pro-ordinance faction dished out fancy PowerPoint presentations showing the dangers of alcohol use and various charts and graphs demonstrating the intensity of New Mexico's DWI problem. Albuquerque Deputy Police Chief Paul Chavez testified, with the prodding of Albuquerque City Attorney's office, about the perils of going to a bar, how drive-bys and mace and fights are what await the innocent clubgoer upon exiting the venue.
It was a laughable presentation. As someone who has been attending shows-hip-hop concerts, rock shows, performance art, music festivals-in bars, clubs, outdoor stages and theaters in different cities for over 20 years, I can honestly say I've never been maced, never seen a fight and never been anywhere near a driveby. The whole argument reeks of scare tactics and fear-mongering.
Worse, out of all the hysterical, hyena-like clamoring to prove that ALCOHOL IS BAD AND MUSIC WILL LEAD TO DANGER, the proponents never once produced any evidence that underage kids actually drink alcohol at these shows, or that the existence of all-ages shows contributes to teen DWI incidents. The connection was never made. Oh, sure they made the point over and over again that booze can lead to increased likelihood of STDs, car wrecks, bad grades, acne, whatever; that teenagers like to binge drink; that many teens drive after they binge drink…well, no shit. Thanks for the info. Hey, how 'bout you tell me if these kids get their booze at bars when they go to hear music. You can't.
We live in a state where muni judges are allegedly doctoring records in order to look tougher on DWI offenders. We live in a state where tourists are hit by drunk drivers and dragged through the streets, leaving a bloody trail behind them. We live in a state with one of the highest rates of DWI accidents in the country. Voters are pissed. And there's no quicker way to get to voters than invoking the safety of their children. That is what is behind this initiative, and nothing else. Which is disgusting.
The kids at last week's hearing weren't buying it and neither were many older adults who work in the tiny New Mexico music industry as sound guys or promoters or DJs or venue owners. While it seemed pretty clear that the proposal-supported by Richardson-has no basis in fact, nor any basis in relevancy, it also seemed clear the teenagers and young people who showed up to basically beg the state not to take away their access to music were articulate, passionate and smart. They were upset, sure, but their sophistication and eloquence stunned me and made me proud. The momentum of this proposal looks pretty unstoppable-unless something drastic happens, it will most likely pass. The sad thing is, it will leave kids who used music to escape from drugs and alcohol high and dry, so to speak, defeating the spirit of and alienating the very demographic it is supposed to help.
