BLACK HAWK - Now that they can stay open 24 hours, Colorado's mountain casinos are eyeing a legislative push to allow them to serve alcohol around the clock.
State law doesn't let businesses serve alcoholic beverages between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. Gambling-industry officials say discussions to eliminate or amend that statute - or to create an exemption for casinos - are preliminary, and a proposal may not come until 2011.
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=125386&catid=339
I would be all for a complete repeal of the statute. It is simply not the place of the government to dictate to business owners when they are allowed to sell or not sell their products.
A special exemption for casinos seems to be political favoritism that is a bit harder to fully get behind, although any small step towards a society where people have more choices and more freedom seems like a good thing to me.
A narrow loophole for casinos seems unfair and dangerous to me; the law should be completely repealed.
It would also exacerbate the problem of drunk driving to and from the mountain towns. Locating "party" businesses only in certain remote jurisdictions is not only unfair, it's a public safety hazard.
If you create a legal framework where neighborhood bars and pubs can stay open 24 hours a day and allow gambling, it would discourage drunk driving and provide greater freedom for Colorado residents.
Posted by: Ken | November 05, 2009 at 12:47 PM