Interview: Sam Terito – Owner, North Gate Tavern

On March 8, the Metro Council votes on a proposal to ban drink specials from 8 to 10 p.m. Last month, we spoke with a representative from Mothers Against Drunk Driving who supports the proposal. Here, North Gate Tavern owner Sam Terito fires back.

Thirty-five states have passed similar ordinances to this one. What is your hope that it will not pass in EBRP?

The ordinance they’re trying to pass punishes all bars, whether they are responsible or not. It’s punishing bar owners for not breaking the law. Why don’t they enforce the state laws already on the books? Like ending drink specials at 10 p.m.

Do Baton Rouge bars consider 12:01 a.m. a new day and offer new specials after midnight?

That doesn’t happen at North Gate Tavern. If others are doing that, I don’t know about it. But I would be for stopping that and penny pitchers.

Would this ordinance affect your bottom line?

Yes. I don’t know that it would kill us, but we do a different $1.75 longneck special every night, and that would be illegal. Our dollar wells would be illegal. If they just ended all drink specials from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., I would support that.

Do you feel like the government would be fixing your prices?

Specials give a bar its personality. This ordinance pulls your hand at being able to compete. It is price fixing, and it takes away a marketing tool.

What upsets you the most?

That the Campus Community Coalition for Change [the group that proposed the ordinance] won’t even meet with us. That these are the same council members who are trying to move Baton Rouge forward and create an entertainment district downtown.