Unruly group spoils night out at bar
By Letter to the Editor on December 1, 2018.
On Nov. 25 I went to a local bar to enjoy a few beers and a steak sandwich while watching the Grey Cup game. I ran into a couple friends who joined me whereby we began an enjoyable conversation while watching the game. It was here that the enjoyable evening ended. Sitting behind me were three young men who, immediately upon the game’s beginning, began yelling and screaming in favour of Calgary. Their jubilant yelling and screaming escalated to fighting on the floor and knocking over furniture in the dining area. After returning to their seats, an employee spoke with them and, I assumed, asked them not to conduct themselves this way. The request fell on deaf ears. Furniture was again knocked over and, while the fighting had subsided, the yelling and screaming continued. Additionally, I felt anxious because I had wanted to cheer for Ottawa and felt unable to because I feared the men yelling and screaming for the Stampeders would turn their violent attention on me. They had already clearly demonstrated a capacity for violence and aggression and I felt scared to raise my voice in favour of Ottawa. I decided to leave. While paying my bill, I expressed my fear and informed staff that my reason for leaving before the game’s end was the (continuing) violent and loudly aggressive behaviour of the Calgary fans sitting along the wall. I was told they were “regular” customers and what else should I expect from being in a sports bar? I replied that I, too, was a paying customer — one who had regularly frequented their establishment. And what I expected was for people, regardless of their location or which team they cheer for, to conduct themselves as adults, as members of a civil society. But, because I was in a sports bar, should I no longer expect this and passively agree to being forced to acquiesce to the “regular” customers’ determining the evening’s tone and atmosphere? Should I choose to sit meekly by while belligerent aggressors yell and fight around me? No. This customer will not sit passively by. If this bar’s management would rather cater to belligerent, uncontrolled and uncivil customers, then they are free to do so. However, as also a paying customer, they will do so without the aid of my money and patronage. Am I asking too much? Am I asking so much that I can’t feel safe walking out my door to visit a location that I had previously felt safe to go to? That I can’t cheer for a team of my preference because hooligans might take their displeasure out on me? Has the lesson of how to live in a civil society one that Medicine Hat, as a city, has chosen to forget and no longer requires its residence to conduct themselves accordingly? If so, then Medicine Hat would do well to remember that lesson and be ashamed for forgetting it! Mathew Hill Medicine Hat 15-14
What did you expect Mathew? You go to an establishment where alcohol is served with a sporting event on TV. It doesn’t really matter the sport or location. Wherever alcohol is served, this is what happens, perhaps this is your very first time being along side of drunkards who probably enjoyed the hell out of fighting and drunkenness.
Best advice to you Mathew, no one likes a whiner, which you are. This is one establishment you know not to attend in the future, then again, anywhere booze is served has the potential for rowdiness. So stay home next time and enjoy the game.
You should’ve caught the hint at “they’re regulars”. By saying this the staff were telling you “this is a sports bar, and that is the demographic we try to attract”. If you want a quiet and peaceful environment to enjoy a sporting event and cheer for your preferred team, try another bar, and quit trying to cast shade upon one that doesn’t cater to you specifically.
I agree with Mathew, and he also has the right to sue the bar, as they did-not respect his safety and well being, As soon as a person walks into a business the business has an obligation to make sure everyone has a safe and friendly environment. The business did not do this, so they are a very poor business if ALL customer can not enjoy being there. No matter what Alcohol is not an excuse for stupidity. I an thinking that the Bar is Ralph’s, and yes they cater to idiots. Their customers are probably the ones that are kicked out of every other bar in town so they go there. Well if they where kicked out than the NON-violent people can enjoy a nite out. However, the business relies on these types of people for the All mighty dollar. So with that said take the owner to court, and the manager, cause that will be the only way that this kind of issue will be rectified where you actually can go out in public and feel like you can be safe secure and enjoy your self.