INTRODUCTION
Bars
and clubs can be found to have a reputation for a place facilitating
and/or creating crime. Due to their nature to encourage and accept
drunkenness, along with other taboo activities shunned upon by most
traditional societies; this lifestyle that has not been accepted for
many years around the world is now a norm. A human’s desire to
leave the mind has led us to seek ways of doing so that are becoming
more and more dangerous. The inability for self-control and natural
remedies to clear and free oneself from life and its heart aches is
creating devastating effects on society as a whole.
Metropolitan
bars and clubs can be found to be different than those in rural
areas. The significant difference in population size is a major
factor for this. Small towns tend to have a family relationship
within its community. The people within a small town tend to have
stronger connections with each other and interact more on a regular
basis. Unlike, those in larger cities one is unaware of most people
because of the lack of regular interaction present to familiarize
oneself. People’s awareness and knowing of one another tends to
bring a more comfortable, loose/lack environment. These environments
can be found in small town businesses and places of entertainment.
This
research paper explores how small town bars and clubs facilitate and
create the opportunity for alcohol-related crimes such as drinking
and driving. Two bars located in Enid, Oklahoma were observed both
inside and outside; comparing their environmental surrounding,
personal structure, and flow of business. These places provide
information, in not only, understanding the problem but providing
solutions as well.
The
first bar observed was Crappy’s Warehouse located at 302 East Maple
Avenue Enid, OK. The second bar observed was Scooter’s located
at 3630 N Van Buren Enid, OK. Crappy’s warehouse is a bar/club
that sits off of 3rd
street; a small alley giving access between Elm and Maple Street. To
the east of the building is an open field covered with trees, to the
west can be found an old abandoned warehouse that stretches from
Maple to Elm Street. There are no light poles or any other source of
light in this area except for the light on the front of the bar above
the door. At night this area is pitch dark from about 2 feet from the
bottom of the steps, leading to the door, out to the parking lot
facing Elm Street. Someone not familiar with this place could find
the area quite frightening at night. Upon entering this facility
through the front door you are greeted with another door but locked.
To your right is a window where an off-duty officer can be found to
check your id and take payment for entering the establishment. On
special nights such as Friday and Saturday you can pay $8 dollars to
drink,as much as you like, select domestic beers from 8pm-12pm.
Within this particular establishment, outside of the off-duty officer
located at the front, there are no other sources of security present.
The exit to this establishment is the same door used as the entrance;
one way in, one way out.
The
second bar/club observed, Scooters, is located directly on a service
road of a highway. It is in a more open area than that of Crappy’s
and is surrounded by an open field. Scooter’s is considered more of
a club than bar, due to its accompanying, a large dance floor.
Scooter’s seems to target a younger adult audience. The design of
this club is created where the parking lot surrounds the entire
structure except the back.
There
are light poles located on the outer perimeter of the parking lot
providing slightly adequate lighting. Due to the parking lot being so
big and spacious the light does not project to the middle of the
perimeter where the building is located. Before entering the
establishment you can observe security present outside the front door
to greet you along with a van labeled “Scooter Wagon.” This van
provides free-of-charge rides home to customers who have drank too
much. Upon, entering the facility to your left you are greeted with
security personnel and an employee of the club who checks your id and
takes the payment for entry. Directly in front of you several feet
away is another door where you can exit. Within this hallway, between
the entrance and exit doors in the middle is the opening into the
club where the large dance floor can be noticed, accompanied by two
bars on opposite ends. Within that room more security can be found
wearing a brownish t-shirt that has the name of the club on front and
“security” on the back. This establishment also has specials on
Wednesday and Saturday where you pay $10 dollars and can drink select
domestic beers from 8pm-12pm.
Looking
at the bar and club in Enid we can see how, if any, the effect of a
pro-alcohol environment and acceptance of over indulging, can have on
one facility without proper preventions set in place.
CRIME PROBLEM
Bars
and other drinking facilities have been known to be places associated
with aggressive, disorderly conduct from its consumers (Green and
Plant, 2006). They can also be recognized as the major starting
points where drinking and driving occur. Drinking and driving is a
problem faced in American society. Alcohol and its availability,
legally, create a contradictory social issue amongst its citizens.
You can find advertisements that promote drinking from a range of
different companies; along with small written notes to drink
responsibly while doing so. Alcohol can be found in numerous types of
businesses, like those that serve both the community and families.
Many of these businesses such as restaurants, sporting facilities,
bars and clubs, convenient stores, and liquor stores all provide
access to alcohol but provide no monitoring on what the consumer does
with it or how they use it. Furthermore, these businesses force
consumers to figure out a means of transportation to leave the
business because the closing time. This creates a risk for the
customer and other bystanders, but it also produces an opportunity to
commit a crime. For example, if consumers have participated in the
club/bar’s alcohol specials, as intended, the result is a consumer
that has alcohol in their system which majority of the time is over
the legal limit for public intoxication. Intoxication over the legal
limit can result in criminal penalties like DUI or DWI.
BAC,
blood alcohol content, is the measure of alcohol in a person’s
bloodstream. This is the way law enforcement measure individual’s
alcohol intake and determine if he/she is over the legal limit.
According to the State of Oklahoma, the BAC for driver’s driving
intoxicated is anything .08% and higher but one is considered
impaired at the .05% level and can be charged with DUI penalties if
found between .05 and .08%. To reach this level one only needs to
intake one 12 ounce beer or one 4 oz glass of wine. It is said, it
takes one hour for either amounts to leave the system and the
individual be capable of functioning appropriately. This information
provides us with insight on the reality that most people consume
beyond the impaired limit. Most specials, such as happy hour, prompt
the consumer to indulge in certain spirits within an allotted time
for a special price; a usually significant discount from the original
price, motivating consumers to participate in this what seems to be
“to good of a deal to pass up.”Also, if one notices at an
establishment that serves alcohol, the waiters or bartenders tend to
consistently ask if you want another drink when they notice your
first glass is almost empty. Some personnel will actually take the
initiative to bring you another round without consent. Pro-alcohol
messages are a concern since, alcohol advertising is positively
associated with drinking and related problems, point-of-purchase
advertising appears to be used to aggressively market alcohol and
contribute to a pro-alcohol environment (Howard, Flora, Schleicher
and Gonzalez, 2004).
Every industry related to alcohol; marketing, political, and more,
must begin to understand this contradictory means of enjoyment and
how it has become a problem. This also shows us that whether
consciously or unconsciously, the care for one reaching the impaired
limit does not exist from the establishment that is the cause for the
impairment. According to the International Center of Alcohol
Policies, “Heavy alcohol use is correlated with problem behavior in
some bars, at sporting events, and in other public places, because
individuals interested in heavy drinking are also often interested in
other risky behaviors and congregate in places where both are
acceptable and expected.”
If
the scale of awareness is as great as it is on the problems caused
from these establishments and alcohol, why are major actions not
being taken? We are so quick to try to do away with other things said
to be harmful, yet they show no significant fatal documentation,
unlike those of tobacco and alcohol reports. What we have seen to
cause significant amounts of death and heartache over decades of
time, we still allow to be freely available.
LITERATURE OF REVIEW
“The
bar is firmly established as an important leisure activity in many
societies. It has long been apparent that heavy drinking in bars is
associated with aggression, violence, public disorder and injuries”
(Green and Plant, 2006). Although, these establishments are areas of
leisure and pleasure, they come with a price not worth the cost. Each
year more than 100,000 Americans die from alcohol related deaths,
annual costs of health care and lost productivity from
alcohol-related deaths, injuries, and illness are estimated at more
than $148 billion (Howard et al., 2004). The question must be asked
and the line drawn between money and well-being: Which is more
important, the well-being of the business or the consumer? Most know
the answer to this question from observing our current society, money
is more important than values, safety, time, and even family now.
Therefore, the attention must be focused to a more reasonable
question and solution. Why do these forms of crime exist amongst
these facilities? What is the explanation for the continuing of these
crimes even when steps have been taken to reduce or eliminate the
problem? Looking at several theories, such as routine activity and
rational choice perspective, can help us answer these questions and
better understand this problem.
Looking
at the rational choice perspective theory it tells us that people
have desires, beliefs, and needs. One will take the steps needed to
fulfill these things. Therefore, criminal behavior is purposive and
rational. Individuals will take the best steps available to them, to
obtain their needs and wants. “Because crimes differ from one
another, the factors weighed by offenders, and the variables
influencing their decision-making, will also differ greatly with the
nature of the offence.” (Wortley and Mazerolle, 2008) Looking at
the everyday want and need to please oneself, this theory shows us
how the choice to drive even though impaired is a rational choice.
Consumers know the moment they decide to indulge in the consumption
of alcohol, one’s intentions of only having one drink every hour is
not present, but instead, to enjoy oneself by indulging to the point
that is comfortable or desired for them. The density of alcohol
outlets has also been found to be related to other alcohol problems
such as drinking and driving (Stewart). Persons in groups that travel
to an establishment for the consumption of alcohol can be found to
designate a person that will be responsible by not drinking, and to
return everyone to their designated location. Unfortunately, this
does not happen all the time. There are also individuals who attend
establishments like this on their own leaving them responsible for
getting themselves home. Looking at couples that attend these
establishments, both usually partake together in consumption,
therefore, leaving both parties impaired and forcing one, depending
on whose more intoxicated than the other to drive. People will decide
not to commit crimes when the risks are too high or rewards are not
adequate. In this case the reward is greater than the risk. For most
people who drink, going over the .05% does not fully impair them to
where they cannot drive functionally, so they will do so if
necessary. One way that has been shown to help steer this mindset
and create a zero tolerance, is the alert of sobriety check points in
place, this is a method of situational crime prevention. The focus of
prevention is targeted to the situation; people getting into their
car and choosing to drive even though they are impaired and over the
legal limit. Increasing the risks and removing excuses are techniques
used to prevent crimes like these. By letting consumers know there
will be stops increases the risk of getting caught, therefore
reducing the reward.
Looking
at routine activity theory it can help explain the aggressive
behaviors, violence, and drug exchanges committed within these
establishments. Routine activity approach tells us that in order for
crime to occur a motivated offender and suitable target must be
present with the lack of a capable guardian (Wortley and Mazerolle,
2008). Looking at Eck’s crime triangle, which consist of an inside
and outside triangle shows us if the handle of the offender, guardian
of the target/victim, and the manager of the place are absent, crime
is feasible (Wortley and Mazerolle, 2008). In reference to drug
exchanges at bars and clubs, one can understand and see the lack of
capable guardian present to oversee and watch this problem. Due to
the nature of security personnel focused on keeping orderly conduct,
a window of opportunity is available for those who wish to do a quick
exchange in the bathroom or exchange outside in the parking lot.
Fights
that begin in clubs and other similar facilities usually begin where
a large crowd of people are clustered together. All personal space
cease to exist and one is forced usually into an uncomfortable state.
What can start from non-verbal communication; can soon turn into the
exchange of aggressive verbal communication and behavior. These
clusters of people are the result of either the involvement of people
from dancing on the dance floor, or the result of individuals who had
enough time to exchange aggressive behavior and attract friends to
form a cluster of individuals to meet in the same place at the same
time. Therefore, the results of these actions create a crime problem.
With the absence of security in this area at the appropriate time,
both, the capable guardian of potential victims and the managers of
the place are absent making the crime now feasible.
METHOD
OF OBSERVATION
The
researcher arrived about 12am on a Saturday at Crappy’s Warehouse
to catch the late crowd. The researcher spent several minutes
observing the outside structure and environment upon entering the
bar. Upon noticing the dark field and ally the researcher observed
one taxi car sitting to the west. No consumers were in site outside
of the facility. To blend into the environment the researcher ordered
a drink from the bar. After receiving the alcoholic beverage the
researcher proceeded to sit at a table facing the west end. This
choice of selection for sitting arrangements allowed the researcher
to see the whole bar in front of her. To the left were the restrooms,
one male and one female; to the right the bar, and behind the
researcher, the wall.
After about an hour of
observation and no crime noticed, the researcher observed an African
American man walking suspiciously to the bathroom; next to were the
researcher was sitting. After he entered the one stall bathroom, two
white males ranging from ages 30-40 entered the stall as well. After
several minutes passed, all men exited the small restroom area single
file. Curious of the actions that had just taken place inside the
restroom, the researchers hypothesis of what took place developed
into a drug exchange between the African American male and the two
Caucasian males. The reason for this conclusion is, first, the
restrooms for both males and females only accommodate for one person
being in there at a time. Therefore, if there is more than one person
in the restroom at a time this tells us the other individuals must
know the person already occupying the stall and has permission to be
present. Due to the male’s ego, amongst other natural sources, the
males need for company in a restroom facility outside of help is
obsolete. Women of today’s society can be found doing this, but it
is rare amongst the males. Therefore, bringing to light an
understanding something else outside of the norm is occurring within
this confined area. Second, the suspicious behaviors observed upon
entering the restroom is of importance. When human-beings feel they
are being watched or the opportunity of getting caught is present
upon committing an illegal act, one becomes aware and scopes its
surroundings; making it noticeable to the trained eye looking for
this type of behavior. Therefore, the researcher’s hypothesis
developed as is.
The
second observation noted by the researcher was a girl observed
intoxicated beyond the limit she was able to handle. She was observed
being physically carried out by a gentleman because of her inability
to walk. About 30 minutes later, the gentlemen and the woman were
observed re-entering the bar. Clearly intoxicated beyond the limit of
self-control, the woman was observed stumbling to the bar to order
yet another alcoholic drink to consume. At no time was the woman
rejected or cut off by any bartender.
A
third observation, noted only due to full participant observation
with other consumers at the bar, did the researcher observe verbal
sexual harassment between employee’s and a boss of Little Debbies.
The group the researcher joined in conversation, consisted of two
younger Caucasian females in their early 20’s if not younger and
one older Caucasian male in his older 40’s to early 50’s. The
group could be observed as having indulged in a few drinks already;
the older man seemingly was more intoxicated than the girls. Upon,
engaging in their conversation of Enid and the area, small remarks
that were considered jokes were exchanged between the older man; the
boss, and the two girls who were the employees. These remarks
consisted of statements of the girl’s sexual reputation. These
remarks consisted of hearsay from other people and comments that the
boss knew about her sexual partners and activities.
The
same methods used to observe the first establishment was the same for
the second, except for the addition of a camera to document. The
researcher arrived at 12pm just like the previous observation on a
Saturday. The researcher once again bought one drink at the bar; a
Heineken beer, and found a table at the end of the room to sit at and
observe. Located in the middle facing the dance floor with one bar
to the left and one to the right the researcher had an open view of
the complete club. Around 1:30 am when last call was being announced
an aggressive fight began to take place. The researcher observed the
brawl and noticed it was the same individuals noticed earlier
exchanging a few words, but actions portrayed nothing of aggressive
behavior. This fight that seemed to begin between two individuals,
turned into a fight with more than 6 individuals involved. The
researcher was able to capture a few pictures of the fight in action
and afterwards, but felt very uncomfortable when doing so. 30 seconds
after the fight began security personnel was noticed trying to gain
control of the environment and restore order. Interestingly, it was
observed that none of the individuals were escorted off the premises
by security. Several of the individuals from the fight escorted
themselves and others outside the premise, to what seemed to be the
continuing of aggressive behavior. Within this time, shortly moments
later another fight broke out. Once again security personnel tried to
break things up and gain control, but failed to do so. In no time,
the police were notified. After trying to move everyone out of the
facility as quickly as possible the researcher noticed she was
walking outside to no security personnel or police enforcement. While
groups of people clustered in front of the parking area, exchanging
threats and more, the researcher returned quickly to her car to
continue further observation. The researcher did notice when exiting
the building individuals where entering the van; courtesy shuttle for
those who are too intoxicated, for rides home. Upon continuing her
observation from the car the researcher noted several individuals
waiting by the van as it left because it was full, these individuals
where waiting for the van to come back to provide a ride home. The
researcher also noted after about five minutes of people still
gathering outside the front of the club and conversing; no police
were present. Upon leaving the club, on the side service road two cop
cars were observed parked at the end of the intersection about half
of a mile from the club.
RESPONSES
From
this research we can see how both; environmental crime theories and
crime prevention theories not only explain the problem found amongst
these small town bars and clubs but also what prevention methods are
being used; if any, and their result; if any. The bar in Enid;
Crappy’s, was found to host drinking and driving problems along
with possible drug related crimes. Looking at, both rational choice
and routine activity theory, these crime problems can be explained.
Due to Crappy’s lack of security presence one can understand the
risk; in what already is a risky facility, are low and the reward is
adequate. The management of the bar is also a key in understanding
the drinking and driving problem. There should be a enforcement
available to cut consumers off from further alcohol purchases when
one is clearly intoxicated. Furthermore, with the understanding that
one is impaired at the .05% blood alcohol level, bars and clubs
should have to monitor this level and the intake and time of each
consumer if one wishes to eliminate this drinking and driving
problem. Unless, one can provide a means of safe transportation to
its consumers who wish to go beyond this limit, this needs to be
taken seriously. This means of prevention can be looked at as
situational crime prevention and can be effective. Outside of the one
taxi car observed this facility provided no safe alternative means of
transportation to its consumers after providing a high amount of
alcohol to consumers in a short amount of time.
The club, Scooters, was
found to have more aggressive, violent behavior problems. Comparing
the two establishments to one another, the major difference in
drinking and driving is Scooters provided a method of prevention more
accessible to its consumers and at no cost. Although, consumers where
still observed leaving the facility and entering their car, the
researcher found less highly intoxicated consumers getting in their
own vehicle to drive. Those of that level seemed to take advantage of
the preventative method offered. The researcher did observe consumers
having to wait for the van to come back because it was full.
The
reason aggressive behavior could be found more so in the club than
the bar, is due to space, time, and environment (place). Scooters
layout was more spacious than that of Crappy’s. With more space and
not enough security personal to watch it all, the space has to be
divided up amongst what personal is available. The result of this is
some space will be uncovered at times thus leaving the opportunity
for something to occur. Routine activity explains this problem. We as
humans can be found to have daily patterns. Most of our patterns
consist of home, work/school, and places of leisure. Unlike,
metropolitan areas rural areas have less population and its inner
city is small. Therefore, people’s routines intersect with one
another more. Thus, when an offender and potential target/victim are
present in the same area and the same time, and the lack of a capable
guardian ceases to exist, the opportunity for crime exist.
CONTRIBUTING
RESPONSES
Strategies
compiled by Janet McAllister of Center for Addiction and Mental
Health, suggest the planning should include building the awareness
level of the community, including resident, business owners,
politicians, and municipal staff. The involvement of the community
must be present and aware. Many basic things such as the appearance
of the bar, location, and structure have an influence on the
prevention of crime. Understanding this, bars and clubs must do their
part to keep things clean and un-clustered. Also, the management and
the flow of business are crucial. If one does not establish
territorial reinforcement amongst its space, its space is susceptible
to crime and other issues. Transportation programs from these
facilities need to be created and enforced. Both a public and private
transportation system's could be created. Private transportation
being available from the establishment that chooses to sell alcohol
should first be implemented due to their facility being a risky
facility that is the cause of the problem. Responsibility must first
be assigned and accepted for these problems to have any chance of
being fixed or reduced. The means and end of bars and clubs need to
be clear and un-contradictory, and if they choose to take the
responsibility of being the source of the problem, they can too take
responsibility for the problem.
CONCLUSION
It
is clear bars and clubs are associated with aggressive violent
behavior, drinking and driving, and other, possible drug related,
crimes. For these problems to have a chance at actually being
eliminated and/or reduce, is for the parties responsible for these
issues to stand up and take responsibility for the actions. That
includes not only businesses and politicians but the consumers as
well. The facts are out there, along with the information needed to
prevent half of these issues. What’s missing is, acceptance and
responsibility. These problems are the result of our own making;
choosing to let alcohol be legal, choosing to condone in the
lifestyle, the choices we choose to make along with the
justifications given to justify, have an effect.
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