Tougher rules needed for big bars, says alderman

A Calgary alderman wants to tighten the rules for the city's biggest bars, saying they are a breeding ground for too many problems.

Druh Farrell says trouble brews in "large-format drinking establishments" that can hold more than 300 people. She is asking city council Monday for restrictions on the size, location and concentration of such high-capacity venues.

At closing time, Calgary police have to spend a lot of energy and money keeping things under control, she said.

"A lot of the patrons just spill out on the street and into the neighbouring communities, and they create a lot of problems. Plus there is that tension when you pack a whole bunch of people together."

Paul Vickers, one of Calgary's most successful club owners who is best known for Cowboys, said micro-managing the bar industry is not the answer.

"The bar owner is not the bad guy. The problem is that very, very small section that now and again we have trouble from …in the form of arguments, fights and problems."

Vickers said a better solution is suspending the licence of bars where there are ongoing problems, regardless of their size or location.