‘Liquor laws need to be overhauled’

A top restaurateur and bar owner yesterday backed calls for a change in the law to allow on-street selling of alcohol during Harbour Nights.

Philip Barnett, the co-chair for the Chamber of Commerce’s  restaurant division and the boss of Island Restaurant Group, said: “There is an opportunity to bring our laws up to the present, while still being responsible servers of alcohol.”

Mr Barnett was speaking after a group application to the Liquor Licensing Authority by the Corporation of Hamilton to allow liquor stalls to be set up around Harbour Nights was turned down.

He said that many bars around the expanded city centre venue for Harbour Nights had been keen to set up extension bars on the streets.

Mr Barnett added: “I think that we need to continue to evolve to attract the clientele to Bermuda who is an excellent traveller to Bermuda.

“We are not a budget destination and we never will be. The type of events we need to be looking to do are for more upscale clientele.

“Having the ability to have a margarita stand, a really cool margarita stand, on the beach to allow the visitors down there to get a nice, frozen adult alcoholic beverage, yes.”

Mr Barnett said: “I have children myself and I don’t want to see drunken behaviour spilling out all over the island, but the controlled selling of alcoholic beverages can enhance us as a tourist destination.”

He was backed by Opposition Leader Marc Bean, who said “boredom” was a problem for visitors after sightseeing and going to the beach.

Mr Bean said after a press conference calling for an immediate referendum on casinos to boost the tourist industry: “Every other country, you can also get a cold beer and some local food at the beach.”

In a bid to revitalise Harbour Nights, the area has been increased from the traditional Front Street venue to take in both Queen and Reid Streets.

The Chamber of Commerce also called for strict rules on the hours shops are allowed to open to be dumped and also for open-air bars to help boost the event’s pulling power.

Chamber of Commerce executive director Joanne MacPhee said after the liquor licence was refused: “We are naturally disappointed, but we respect the Magistrate’s decision and understand that under current legislation such an application could not be considered.”

She added: “We strongly believe there is still a bigger issue at stake here. If Bermuda wants to be competitive and create an environment which is welcoming and responsive to our guests’ expectations, then there needs to be a significant change in our overall mindset.

“To this end, the Chamber intends to continue its lobbying efforts in respect to modernizing Bermuda’s antiquated legal system to meet the demands of today’s business environment.”

And she said: “Hindsight is always 20/20 and it now evident that we should have sought a legal opinion before perusing this particular application process, as now so much time and energy have been wasted.”