Like it or Not: Drinking is Part of Albany's Culture

Any teacher will tell you a guaranteed way to lose control of your class is to punish everyone for the actions of a few. Apparently, this lesson has been lost on the elected officials of Albany. Let me start out by saying that this article is not condoning excessive alcohol use. After age 21, I think we are all done wearing the number of beers drank as a badge of honor. Rather, this piece points out an obvious fact: drinking is a part of this city's culture.

Last call laws in New York State vary from county to county. Yet, Albany is one of the few cities in upstate New York where bars stay open until 4 a.m. Mayor Jennings made a half-hearted attempt to reduce bar hours by "asking" local owners to close up shop by 2 a.m. Of course, none of the city's watering holes obliged. Anyone who has lived in the Albany for an extended period of time knows that two of the main attractions in the city are Pearl Street and Lark Street. Although both offer a range of shops and restaurants, the main draw is the establishments where one can quench their thirst. By 2005, the city's most well known educational institution, SUNY Albany, had the distinction of being on "Princeton's Best Party Schools" list ten times; topping the list twice. Hugh Hefner even took interest in the capital city in 2009, when SUNY Albany cracked Playboy's list of top 25 party schools in the country.

The recent "kegs and eggs" (video) melee that received national attention has left city officials spinning their wheels as to how to clean up Albany's reputation. Their answer was to establish new restrictions for one of Albany's most popular events. Patrons were ban from bringing alcohol to this year's Tulip Fest. Instead, a beer garden was put by the main stage. According to the Daily Gazette, it seemed that attendance was a little lighter this year at the festival. Tulip Fest is now the second public event where city officials have prevented citizens from bringing their own alcohol. Seven years ago Mayor Jennings introduced similar restrictions at Albany's Alive at Five. Council Member Dominick Calsolaro has introduced legislation in the past to ban alcohol sales completely from Alive at Five. While the Councilman's plan never gained traction, it shows the ever increasing role Albany's public officials are willing to play in our personal choices. Are we one "Animal House" moment away from restricting alcohol at all of Albany's outdoor events; such as, the Fourth of July?

No one can blame the city's leaders for wanting to reduce excessive drinking. However, they must come to grips with the fact that much of Albany's economic vitality is tied to alcohol. Let's not punish a population of 100,000 residents for the actions of college students. City officials would be better served instituting initiatives that get residents home safely, rather than telling them when and when not to have a drink.