On Monday, November 12, with just one day left before the end
of the public comment period on a proposed Oregon Liquor Control
Commission (OLCC) rule change that could open up Portland’s all-ages
music scene, youth gathered in city hall’s council chambers to
testify.
In front of the Multnomah Youth Commission—the hearing wasn’t
an official OLCC event—dozens of youth crammed in to discuss and
debate the “minors posting” rules. Simply put, the current OLCC
proposal would allow some venues to submit a “control plan, which is a
description of how they’d prevent minors from obtaining alcohol, and
limit their exposure to a drinking environment,” explained Dan McNeal,
the OLCC’s metro licensing unit manager. If the OLCC approves the
control plan, minors would be able to catch shows, and venues would be
able to pay the bills by selling liquor.
Kids who testified on the proposal gave the thumbs up to the
idea.
“I’m 16 years old, and I’m here because I’m worried about my
friends. My school is nicknamed Drinkin’ Lincoln. That’s not because
people go to bars. It’s because people can’t go to venues, so they go
to someone’s house and drink in the basement,” said Lisa Frank.
Teenager Jon Woelfer echoed that sentiment: “I’d just like to go and
have fun. I’m not going to drink, I don’t want to. I don’t think this
change would necessarily increase youth drinking. Youth would probably
not go to a place full of adults and authority figures and drink,
they’re going to go to the 7-Eleven or their mom’s fridge.”
After youth testified, the 17 Multnomah Youth Commissioners present
debated whether or not to send a letter to the OLCC, endorsing the
proposal. Thanks to the group’s bylaws, a majority vote of the entire
commission—or 16 votes—was needed to pass a motion, leaving
a razor-thin margin for dissent.
Despite unanimous testimony in favor of the proposal, the group was
unable to secure enough votes to endorse the proposal—several
youth commissioners had concerns about youth under 18 being around
drinking at all, even if a “control plan” was in place to keep alcohol
out of underagers’ hands. A compromise motion—to endorse the OLCC
proposal, but recommend that it only apply to those 18 and
up—also failed, due to protest votes from commissioners who
argued that it cut out too many music-adoring kids.
However, every motion to endorse the proposal did get the support of
a simple majority of the 17 members present, and the public testimony
will be forwarded to the OLCC.
The OLCC’s board is expected to vote on the proposed rule change on
December 13 or 14.