Pubdate: Sat, 19 Aug 2006
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Gwendolyn Richards

SHUT BARS LINKED TO DRUGS: MINISTER

Alberta may look at revoking drinking licences from bars where drugs 
are sold as a way of combating violence, the province's top cop 
suggested Friday.

The spate of shootings and stabbings in Calgary nightclubs in the 
last two years are often connected to the drug trade, Harvey Cenaiko 
said from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in St. John's, N.L.

"The trafficking of narcotics should not and cannot be condoned 
within a licensed establishment," he said.

His comments came after the release of a 76-page report Wednesday by 
the provincial government, which offered up many recommendations for 
dealing with bar violence, including raising the legal drinking age 
and staggering closing times.

But Cenaiko suggested Gaming Minister Gordon Graydon look at revoking 
licences because some gang violence is related to turf protection and 
selling drugs around bars.

"It was very clear from the meetings that were held over the last 
year that bar owners have become aware of individuals who have been 
selling drugs in their bars and they have a responsibility to tell 
police," he said.

Bar owners may pick up the phone to report drug activity if they knew 
they were risking their establishment's licence, he added.

However, Cenaiko also called on owners to come up with ways of 
combatting violence and said that report suggestions -- such as 
banning "happy hour" drink prices -- should be dealt with by the 
industry itself.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association 
distanced itself from comments made Thursday by one of its directors, 
Al Browne, that bars consider racial profiling to keep gangs out.

"CRFA would like to state categorically that statements attributed to 
Mr. Browne in no way represent the opinions or positions of the 
association," Western Canada vice-president Mark von Schellwitz wrote 
in a letter Friday.

Browne said Friday racial profiling is inappropriate and he advocates 
a system that would help establishments identify individuals 
responsible for bar violence and subsequently penalize them.

"Identify the people causing the problems and then either fine them 
or prevent them from coming in; develop some kind of penalty system 
so the people are identified and then can't get in," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman