The problem is that you can argue that alcohol won't make or break these restaurants (I believe it will do nothing but harm). Let us just say that for the moment. AND let us say that those that went to these restuarants only had one glass of wine/beer each - again not enough to make or break profit margins. BUT what it does do is deter people from going and NO customers = businesses closing down. Whenever I have eaten at the pearl, every table was ordering an alcoholic drink (not to excess) and if they cannot have even their one glass of wine with their pasta they will simply vote with their feet and go elsewhere. i cannot drink at the moment as I am pregnant so it makes no difference to me but as my husband said to me yesterday, that is another venue off the list and we are simply not going to go if he cannot have a glass of wine, we will go elsewhere.
That does not even take into account all the people who might think twice about renting, why be so far out of town when you can be closer to hotels who will serve a drink. Also, new restaurants will think twice about setting up which = empty lots. Not a good look, soon to be the new attraction in town, Ghost town at the pearl (but then again they will charge a fortune to get in and no one will go)
The problem is that you can argue that alcohol won't make or break these restaurants (I believe it will do nothing but harm). Let us just say that for the moment. AND let us say that those that went to these restuarants only had one glass of wine/beer each - again not enough to make or break profit margins. BUT what it does do is deter people from going and NO customers = businesses closing down. Whenever I have eaten at the pearl, every table was ordering an alcoholic drink (not to excess) and if they cannot have even their one glass of wine with their pasta they will simply vote with their feet and go elsewhere. i cannot drink at the moment as I am pregnant so it makes no difference to me but as my husband said to me yesterday, that is another venue off the list and we are simply not going to go if he cannot have a glass of wine, we will go elsewhere.
That does not even take into account all the people who might think twice about renting, why be so far out of town when you can be closer to hotels who will serve a drink. Also, new restaurants will think twice about setting up which = empty lots. Not a good look, soon to be the new attraction in town, Ghost town at the pearl (but then again they will charge a fortune to get in and no one will go)