By MELISSA PEACOCK

Do you want to drink the night away? Soon, that might not be an option.

The St. John the Baptist Parish Council is considering an ordinance to ban the sale of alcohol between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. The ordinance is primarily aimed at bars and would prohibit, in addition to the sale of alcohol between the designated hours, the possession or consumption of alcohol on bar property.

If the ordinance passes, stores would also be required to stop selling alcohol during the curfew. But unlike their barstool bedecked counterparts, the stores could remain open for the duration of the night or, rather, the early morning hours.

But is the imposed curfew fair? It all depends on who you ask. While some locally owned pubs believe they could lose business and their livelihood with the loss of hours, others say most bars either close or lose clientele before 2 a.m. anyway.

Your ‘average Joe’ or ‘Josephine,’ as the case may be, works at least five days (or nights) a week – eight hours per day. That does not leave a whole lot of room for night time recreation. And those early-to-rise are normally early-to-bed.

Traditionally, bars throughout the United States have maintained different business hours for week-nights and weekends to accommodate the crowd that is off work (or out of class) and ready to relax come Friday and Saturday nights. It is feasible that the parish could opt to extend hours on the weekends. However, because so many locals work shifts in industry, it is unlikely that such a plan would benefit anyone except the younger drinking crowd.

If it comes down to a vote, if beer lovers do lose some of their rights to belly-up to the bar, the uniform 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. system seems to be as good a schedule as any. By 2 a.m. most residents that have worked a full week are more than ready for bed. Those getting off late shifts are likely too tired to head to the bar for anything more than a drink or two.

It is not outrageous for parish officials to suggest a system to control alcohol sales. Many states, including Georgia and Alabama, already have liquor control policies in place.

The sale of alcohol in stores and bars is prohibited on Sundays in Georgia. Only restaurants that receive most of their profits from food are exempt. Stores can only sell alcohol between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Many towns require bars to close between 1 and 2 a.m. In Alabama, only private clubs are allowed to continue serving liquor after 2 a.m. Sundays. Both states still have many counties that are “dry” or do not sell liquor at all.

What could this ordinance do? It could limit freedom. It could make it harder for some residents to purchase alcohol. However, it could also curb the number of alcohol related accidents, crimes and deaths.

Do we really need to stay out until 6 a.m. to say that we have had a good time? Is there anything but trouble waiting for us outside of our homes and our jobs between 2 and 6 in the morning?

That is something that the parish council, with public input, will have to decide.

MELISSA PEACOCK is a staff reporter for L’Observateur. She may be reached at (985) 652-9545.