Laredo Proud: Booze Boom underway

Setting the example!

Fueled by the attention-seeking partiers appearing weekly in Laredo Morning Times' Que Pasa, booze-driven businesses are thriving in our humble, albeit intoxicated, town.  Perhaps its time for a new Temperance movement.

I remember when cigarette commercials were pulled off the air because of smoking's link to health problems but alcohol continues to ravage our nation. So is it time for 21st century version of the Temperance movement? I'll drink to that!

From The Laredo Sun

LAREDO, TX .- One of the fastest growing businesses that have been recorded in Laredo for the past three years are those related to nightlife.

In 36 months 160 permits were granted for those establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold.
Gustavo Guevara Jr., City Clerk, said that due to the rise in the application of these special permits, a guide was developed to provide guidance to employers on all the steps you must follow to obtain license from the municipality, county and state.

Although the process seems complicated by the large number of units involved, the fact is that if the applicant meets the requirements in less than three months, they can have everything ready to begin operations.
Until recently Laredo nightlife has little activity but about five years ago, the nightlife began to increase and reach it’s peak during the years of 2009 and 2011.

In 2009, 48 licenses were issued for the sale of alcohol in businesses such as restaurants, bars and nightclubs. In 2010 there were 64 permits and in 2011 the figure again reached 48, a total of 160 in three years.