The Ann Arbor city government has been cracking down on establishments that offer a free drink along with some other service. This includes Salon Vox (noted in the article) where the charming Jenna styles (almost said "cuts", which would clearly be wrong) my hair these days. In the past, I could have a bit of wine or a martini with my haircut, which made it seem ever so much more civilized (as does the fact that Salon Vox is located next to one of A2's best used bookstores, where I always make a stop after I am done) and enjoyable than an ordinary haircut.
I am told that some of downtown A2's licensed alcholol sellers are behind this city crackdown. They fear competition from hairstylists and art galleries, which is both rather sad and pathetic in and of itself and perhaps even a bit odd. Salon Vox does a lot of business styling the hair of young women right before they go out for a night on the town. Do you think those young women will spend more or less on alcohol at the restaurant or bar or club at which they spend their evening if they start the evening just a bit tipsy from their Salon Vox Appletini or if they start it stone cold sober?
More broadly, I am puzzled as to how it can possibly improve public welfare to limit the number of liquor licenses in Ann Arbor. I do not have much problem with having a system of licenses per se but it seems to me that they should be available to all legitimate businesses that demonstrate knowledge of the rules and have procedures in place to avoid distribution to minors. The current system simply passes out monopoly rents to favored businesses. That is good for them and for the politicians to whose campaigns they contribute, but not good for the A2 drinking public at large.
Perhaps the Ann Arbor News can do a story that follows the trail of campaign dollars?
Whew.
8 years ago
