Dr. Tom Shieh, a staunch anti-alcohol abuse, welcomed Cruz’s Bill 356 and the companion legislation, Bill 357, which provides stiffer penalties for violators.
“This bill will go a long way, the reduction of hours will benefit the people of Guam by helping reduce alcohol related crime and the number of drunk drivers on the road,” Shieh said.
Some bar owners have reservations about the reduced hours of serving alcohol.
“It might not hurt too much, but that is still an extra two hours the bars can make money,” said the owner of Sawadee Lounge in Tamuning, who asked that she be identified only as Soraya. “That is pretty tough; after all it is the small businesses that pay a lot of taxes.”
Regardless of the length of legal drinking hours, Soraya said bar patrons and drinkers will do as they please anyway. “No matter what they are still going to be drinking two hours more or two hours less,” she added.
Under the current law, drinking establishments are allowed serve alcohol until 2 a.m. on weekdays and until 4 p.m. on weekends. Under Bill 356, the 2 a.m. last-call for alcohol would also apply on weekends.
Shieh, however, said 2 a.m. last call “is still pretty late,” noting that alcohol is the number one cause of violent crimes on Guam.
“As a doctor, I would encourage the senators to increase the drinking age on Guam, especially with the military buildup,” Shieh said. “On base, the drinking age is 21, and I think it should be consistent.”
He added that 50 states of the U.S. have the legal drinking age as 21.
A local military spouse agrees with Shieh. “I think instead of changing the time maybe they should change the drinking age to 21 instead of 18,” said Melisa Binkey, head of the enlisted spouse’s club at Anderson Air Force Base. “Most 18 year olds are not responsible enough to be drinking in the first place.”
Regina Fegurger, a University of Guam student, who works as a part-time bartender at Tower of London in Tumon, said a better public transportation system would offer a real solution to ensure safer roads on Guam.
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