News Article: April 10, 2007
New program to curb problem patrons in downtown bars
News 1130
Tuesday, April 10 - 10:53:00 AM
John Ackermann
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Vancouver Canucks begin their latest Stanley Cup run tomorrow night and Downtown bars are getting ready by banding together to screen problem patrons. It's a scheme put together by Hospitality Vancouver, which includes just about every bar on Granville Street. If you get tossed out of one establishment, you might as well go home.
Within the next month, those computers used to scan your ID when you walk in, will be linked. If you're kicked out of one place, you can't just walk down the strip and be allowed into another.
Civil liberties groups have raised concerns but Barwatch Chair John Teti says the information is completely safe. He says the databank is stored in a third party so it's secure. Since they can't access it, they can't use it for marketing or any purpose like it. Teti says it all came together after the city had threatened to roll back bar hours if something wasn't done about increasing violence.