Bill Would Ban Swearing in Bars
posted 11:23 am Tue January 08, 2008 - ST. CHARLES, Mo.
What the ...? A St. Louis-area town is considering a bill that would ban swearing in bars, along with table-dancing, drinking contests and profane music.
City officials contend the bill is needed to keep rowdy crowds under control because the historic downtown area gets a little too lively on some nights.
City Councilman Richard Veit said he was prompted to propose the bill after complaints about bad bar behavior. He says it will give police some rules to enforce when things get too rowdy.
But some bar owners worry the bill is too vague and restrictive, saying it may be a violation of their civil rights.
Marc Rousseau, who owns bar R.T. Weilers, said he thinks the bill needs revision.
"We're dealing with adults here once again and I don't think it's the city's job or the government's job to determine what we can and cannot play in our restaurant," Rousseau said.
The proposal would ban indecent, profane or obscene language, songs, entertainment and literature at bars.
A meeting to discuss the proposal is set for Jan. 14.
But some bar owners worry the bill is too vague and restrictive, saying it may be a violation of their civil rights.
Marc Rousseau, who owns bar R.T. Weilers, said he thinks the bill needs revision."We're dealing with adults here once again and I don't think it's the city's job or the government's job to determine what we can and cannot play in our restaurant," Rousseau said.
The proposal would ban indecent, profane or obscene language, songs, entertainment and literature at bars.
A meeting to discuss the proposal is set for Jan. 14.
Latest Comment on Bill Would Ban Swearing in Bars
conundrum
6:12 pm on 01/08/08
It seems to me that this would be a self-solving problem.
If some people don't like the music or the language, they hopefully would have the modicum of intelligence to decide to go elsewhere. If so many don't like it, there will be very few customers left and the bar will close.
They should be pleased that they have an active downtown so the businesses pay taxes and the customers are spending money and paying sales taxes.
I think too many politicians just try to create problems so they can claim to solve the problem they fabricated.
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