Bar owners say price for security too high

Despite violent displays at bars, including some with fatal consequences, some bar owners say that the costs of security for them and their customers is just too high.

Stabroek News spoke with two bar owners and they both said it would be too costly and the expense associated will far exceed what they can afford.

One bar owner said that she is fully behind installing security cameras. She said that this can capture patrons’ every move and if prosecution is necessary, the footage can be used as evidence. The businesswoman pointed out that very often when patrons become intoxicated, they get violent but very often there is nothing much that the bar owners can do. “The most we can do is try and put them out. But what happens when you got a setta drunk men,” the businesswoman said, while explaining that sometime there are fights at her bar during which tables and chairs get broken. She said that this is added expense for her as she is the one who has to replace them.

Another bar owner said that he would not look in the direction of security as it is too costly. If cameras have to be set up that too will cost money. He said that one has to realise that some bars don’t generate enough income to cover additional costs, such as a security guard. It was noted too that with so many bars around,