ELISSA NADWORNY, HOST:
Last call (laughter). It's a familiar refrain in Boston bars before 2 a.m., after which Massachusetts prohibits the sale of alcohol. But now the state is one of several to loosen alcohol restrictions during the World Cup. Boston is one of the tournament's host cities. But this licensing move is raising public safety concerns. Joining us to discuss it is Corean Reynolds. She's the director of Nightlife Economy for the city of Boston. Thanks for being here.
COREAN REYNOLDS: Thank you for having me.
NADWORNY: OK. So first up, how will the extended last call actually work in the city?
REYNOLDS: What's important for people to understand that this isn't a blanket flip of a switch. The state enables but does not require bars and restaurants with liquor licenses to extend service by one hour running from June 8 through July 31. Establishments still have to go through their local licensing board to participate.
Alongside that, we're also authorizing designated social districts, which are basically outdoor public spaces where open containers are permitted within a set boundary (laughter). We actually piloted a version of this on a street that we call Temple Place in our downtown area. And the response from both businesses and residents was they really encouraged it and enjoyed it, and there was economic impact there.
NADWORNY: I'm sure that you are aware that there are some public safety concerns. Soccer fans, for example, can sometimes get a bit rowdy. Others are concerned about more drunk driving. I mean, what's your response to all that?
REYNOLDS: Whenever we expand hours, you have to be honest about what it means for public safety, what it means for our late-night workforce or for our neighbors that are living near our entertainment district. And so what we've done is we've gathered each licensee by neighborhood. We've had public safety conversations with them. We've provided drink covers to prevent drink tampering. We've created partnerships with our EMTs to provide CPR training - so really being thoughtful about how we do nightlife here in Boston, not just for the summer, but in perpetuity.
NADWORNY: Some would say that Boston's nightlife scene isn't as fun as it could be. I mean, that's in large part because alcohol restrictions in the state are notoriously strict, especially compared with neighboring states. I mean, for example, happy hours are illegal. Are these changes that you're doing for the World Cup - are they something that you'll be pushing for permanently?
REYNOLDS: Well, Massachusetts has had a complicated relationship when it comes to alcohol policy. I'll start there.
(LAUGHTER)
REYNOLDS: The commonwealth was one of the earliest places in the country to adapt temperance laws in the 19th century. But even after the repeal of prohibition, Massachusetts just retained some of the most cautious alcohol policies. It's a highly regulated system. And Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 40 years ago, got rid of the happy hour that you mentioned.
But what I want to acknowledge is there's technology that has advanced since then. Our laws do not reflect the advancement of technology. And so I do see a path in the future for us to be more innovative. That, amongst other things, I think (laughter), is what we will have to get gains on before we see more permanent change in this work.
NADWORNY: That's Corean Reynolds, the director of Nightlife Economy for the city of Boston. Cheers.
REYNOLDS: Cheers.
NADWORNY: (Laughter).
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SHOTS")
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