THE ISSUE
The Westmont Village Board recently changed the time from 6 to 9 a.m. when business may start selling alcohol in town.

OUR VIEW
No one offered evidence that early morning drunks are patronizing local establishments, which will be hurt by the new law.

SPEAK UP
Should the Village Board reverse its decision and switch back to the 6 a.m. starting time for selling liquor? Tell us what you think of this by leaving a comment below. You can also e-mail your comment here. Or leave a voice message at (630) 368-8882.

In voting to alter when businesses can begin selling alcohol, Westmont officials are much more focused on perception than they are on reality.

The Westmont Village Board approved an ordinance Oct. 19 pushing the time taverns and stores can start selling liquor from 6 to 9 a.m. each morning. Village trustees said they opted to make the change as a result of intoxicated people “interacting” with morning commuters and early downtown shoppers. They also wanted to put Westmont’s reputation as Whiskey Hill behind them.

Bars open at 6 a.m. to cater mainly to individuals who want to grab a drink after leaving work. They work an overnight shift, and this is their happy hour.

The ordinance, which will take effect Jan. 1, will impact bars as well as stores that sell packaged and carry-out liquor. One tavern owner said he could lose as much as $30,000 a year by reducing his service 18 hours a week.

It’s not pleasant having to deal with people strolling around in public who are drunk, but village officials have failed to provide evidence that the intoxicated individuals are those patronizing bars and stores at 6 a.m. each morning. Perhaps they’re people who’ve been up all night drinking. Maybe they’re homeless people who drink whenever.

If commuters and downtown shoppers are being harassed by drunks at that time of the morning, police officers should be making arrests for public intoxication. Throw a guy in jail enough times and he’ll eventually start thinking twice about his behavior.

And if the drunks are stumbling out of local bars, what’s to stop this from being a problem at 9 a.m.? Will the Village Board continue changing the time that alcohol can be sold each time someone complains that he or she was pestered by an inebriated passer-by?

If drunks are causing problems early in the morning, officials need to deal with this problem where it is. But they shouldn’t penalize local businesses just so they can brag about the town’s new image.