Post Classifieds
Curfew limits entertainment for under-21 crowd
By Caitlin Waters
On October 10, 2012
The Buffalo Common Council recently established a 10 p.m. curfew six nights a week
for anyone under the age of 21 on Chippewa Street. That means no more admittance
to the district's infamous bars and clubs for those 20 years old and under on
Thursday nights.
Going downtown to Chippewa on Thursdays is a college tradition. Bars and clubs
such as Bayou, Bottoms Up and 4Play are just some of the places that were open to
anyone 18 years and older.
Thursdays were the only nights that you could count on something fun for people
under 21. On Fridays and Saturdays, plans were always up in the air, but Thursdays
have always been nights when any college student could consistently go out and
have a good time.
I turned 21 at midnight on a Thursday and Chippewa was the perfect place to
go because my friends and family who were not of age could come out and help
me celebrate. I could enjoy the perks of being 21, and my friends and family who
weren't could still dance and have a great time.
I think the curfew was a horrible idea. These clubs and bars put huge "X's" on
underage individuals' hands indicating they cannot buy alcohol at the bar. You
could argue there are still ways for them to get drinks, but they were the only places
that were heavily supervised and had bouncers preventing underage people from
drinking.
I understand that with the influx of violence and excessive drunkenness downtown
something needed to change, but this wasn't the solution to solve the problem. That
violence and drunkenness is going to occur regardless of what age group is allowed
down there.
To make the curfew only apply to Chippewa Street makes no sense. It's only going
to push clubs and bars on other streets to let 18-year-olds into their establishments.
Mojos on Main Street has already started a college night of 18 and older admittance
on Thursdays.
Every other bar in Buffalo can make their business 18 and older to get in, just not
anywhere on Chippewa anymore. That's not solving the problem, that's just moving
it somewhere else.
Students at Buff State will be forced to travel further and in areas they're not
familiar with just so they can go to a club that allows people under 21.
Establishments downtown around the Chippewa area are also going to lose a lot
of money. On average, clubs would charge five to ten dollar covers for anyone
underage. Add that up over a couple hundred college students and that's a lot of
cash.
Restaurants will also lose business on these nights. Especially places like Jim's Steak
Out and Mighty Taco which provide cheap food into the late hours of the night. After
a long night of dancing and socializing, people are hungry.
Now that I'm 21, this curfew change won't really affect me. The crowds will be
smaller, but I don't usually go downtown Thursday nights anyway.
However, the tradition at Buffalo State of all students going "DT" on Thursday nights
is now compromised. Being able to dance and party at these places on Chippewa on
Thursday nights was a huge part of my college experience and I feel sorry for people
under the age of 21 who can no longer enjoy it.
If you want to voice your opinion about the curfew, you can contact Buffalo City
Common Council at 716-851-4890.
Caitlin Waters can be reached by email at waters1.record@live.com.
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