Legal News

Does Louisiana Really Need More Legal Drinking Venues?

By Jennifer Forsyth

Many moons ago, LB once picked up and moved to Shreveport, La., and was amazed–and slightly appalled–with the concept and proliferation of drive-thru daiquiri stands. You couldn’t go in. There was just the drive-up window, a perky clerk behind it, and, behind her, a vast array of frozen alcoholic beverages to be handed to–yes–drivers in a to-go cup. One place, called Cajun Daiquiris, offered bumper stickers that said “If you’re not wasted, the day is.”

It is into this milieu that a Louisiana state representative is pushing to give barbershops the right to serve their customers free glasses of beer, wine and liquor, reports the AP in this story that comes to us via the Houston Chronicle.

Seems that Rep. Jerry Gisclair has constituents who run hair salons which routinely offer customers a way to relax during the stress of shave or a permanent wave. However, the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control had been frowning on this practice of late. So Gisclair’s bill would allow all cosmetology businesses to get a liquor license to serve alcohol at no cost while still allowing children in their businesses. “I’m not pushing or promoting alcohol,” the Larose Democrat told the AP. “I’m just trying to put everybody on the same playing field.”

What say you LB readers? Is this a harmless practice that should be codified or is Alcohol and Tobacco Control right to think businesses shouldn’t give out free drinks?

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on April 01, 2009 (boomark / email).