There are two issues in Pacific Beach in which you can get near unanimous agreement on: parking is a challenge and alcohol abuse creates too many problems.
When it comes to alcohol, the issue is usually broken down into three categories: alcohol consumption at the beach, house parties and bars/nightclubs.
Of those categories, bar and nightclub owners often feel that they unfairly receive a majority of the blame for many of the alcohol-related issues in Pacific Beach.
“Around 80 percent of the alcohol purchased in Pacific Beach comes from retail outlets, not bars,” said Benjamin Nicholls, executive director for Discover Pacific Beach. “This includes everything from neighborhood grocery locations to convenience stores to the large chains.”
Yet, despite the difference in sales figures, all concerned believe bars have a legal and moral obligation to act responsibly when serving alcohol.
Marian Novak is the executive director of the Responsible Hospitality Coalition (RHC), which is funded by San Diego County Alcohol and Drug Services. Her primary service is to train bar personnel on how to properly dispense alcohol to customers. She also agrees with Nicholls on too much blame being placed on bars for alcohol-related problems in Pacific Beach.
“All the main bars which come to anyone’s mind in Pacific Beach have gone through my training program,” she explained. “It involves a test and has to be successfully completed for someone to receive certification.”
Novak is quick to add she does training twice a year, hosted by The Catamaran, for bars in Pacific Beach. Nearly 100 people attend each session. In addition, the downtown office of the Alcohol Beverage Control, which issues all licenses that allow alcohol to be sold and served in San Diego County, offers similar training twice a month.
While not mandated by law, RHC certifies employees after completing its training program.
“If you go to a manicurist, in all likelihood they have received some official training and even certification,” Novak said. “Yet literally anyone can serve alcohol. They just apply for a job and if they are hired they can start pouring beer.”
Since nobody is going to argue the consequences of a poor manicure or bad haircut are more severe than improper dispensing of alcohol, Novak feels proper training for bar employees is all the more important and necessary.
“We train everyone from the bartenders, waiters and waitresses, security and management,” she said. “Everything is covered from how to properly check identification, look for drugs and politely cut off people when they have had too much to drink.”
Because of the training bar staff members receive, Nicholls said he believes bars are actually the safest place to consume alcohol.
Whereas anyone 21 and older can walk out of a store with a case of beer, a bar patron will not be allowed to sit and consume 24 beers.
“In a bar there are people watching out for your safety like the bartender and security,” Nicholls said. “Who is watching out for your safety and best interests at the beach or even at private parties? Most date rapes in Pacific Beach happen at private parties.”
According to Nicholls, the alcohol issue has a direct correlation to trash and litter at the beach.
“All the beer bottles, cans and plastic cups left on the beach from the July Fourth holiday did not come from bars,” he said. “In fact, bars are not allowed to even let alcohol leave their premises. If they do they can [be] cited and fined.”
While everyone has their own ideas and opinions regarding solutions, Nicholls is certain there is one which will work and has the full support of the business community ” more police in Pacific Beach.
For more information on the RHC, call (858) 793-1585.