Oh, Shut Up About New York City's Booze 'Crackdown'

Guys: Mayor Bloomberg does not want to take away your booze. Yes, the Health Department is considering a proposal to "curb excessive drinking" in New York City. (For this, the Post calls him a "party pooper," Animal NY calls him a hypocrite, and Gothamist calls him Nanny Bloomberg.") Yes, he thinks you probably drink too much. (To be fair: you do.) Yes, he's a sucky mayor. But he's not really doing anything here except that will make your life harder, unless you are an asshole (or, to be fair, in the employ of the booze business). Let's be clear about what the proposals actually are, according to the Post:

One of the goals listed in the "request for proposal" document to community groups is "reducing alcohol retail outlet (e.g. bar, corner store) density and illegal alcohol," the document states.


"Reduce the exposure to alcohol products and bar advertising and promotion in retail and general (trains, buses, etc.) settings (stores, restaurants, etc)," the department's document says.

I'm going to assume that most of you don't care about reducing alcohol advertising, or cracking down on illegal alcohol. So you're bugging about... the city "reducing alcohol retail outlet density"? Have you been to the Lower East Side on a Friday night? I mean: Booze is not becoming illegal. Taxes aren't being raised. Literally, you might—might—have to walk an extra few blocks to get a beer, and the most horrific neighborhoods in the city will likely get more livable. For this, you are all whining? I can see why everyone else hates this city.

[NYP, image via AP]