Tri-Cities Talk: Who's Responsible For Bad Behavior At Tri-Cities Bars?

Welcome to Tri-Cities Talk—a new feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on current issues facing Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles.

Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked the Tri-Cities community the week before on local Patch Facebook pages.

There have been several stories in the news recently related to fights and other bad behavior at Tri-Cities bars. Some say the city must increase regulation and enforcement, while others insist that bar owners and staff add to the problem by overserving customers. Many others argue that individuals are solely responsible for their own behavior. That brings us to this week's question:

Who holds the largest responsibility when negative incidents occur at Tri-Cities bars—the city, bar owners or individual patrons?

Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section. 

Amy Elizabeth: The individual! Control yourself and your liquor intake. If you can't then you shouldn't be drinking. — Batavia Patch Facebook

Bill Andreozzi: The bar owners clearly. They are given the privilege to serve alcohol. It's their job to protect their livelihood, patrons, the city and the drunks that come in and can't control themselves. The bouncers need some training and the owners need to think about all the people that won't go back to a bar that is known for fighting. It's just common sense and good business. — Geneva Patch Facebook

David Henry: Individual patrons,unless you are blatantly over serving the patrons, as was the case with the Filling station,as you reported! Make fighting in or outside of a bar a Felony. — St. Charles Patch Facebook

Ben Rottschafer: Bar owners - time to keep your establishment in check. Idiots will be idiots, cant control that. But owners can stop serving and refuse those who are too intoxicated to be there. — Batavia Patch Facebook

Jo Ann 'Prock' Corbett: No I disagree. Why is it not the patrons fault for not being responsible? Why do we always blame someone else instead of the person responsible. We have become a country that is so good at blaming others instead of taking responsibility for our own actions. — Geneva Patch Facebook

Chris Metz: patrons of course, for being stupid and irresponsible, not just the bar owners but those working behind the bar,and the CITY OF ST.CHARLES FOR NOT HAVING OR ENFORCING THEIR RULES HARD ENOUGH. — St. Charles Patch Facebook

Aaron Hollen: If the bartender clearly sees the person is intoxicated then the bartender should cut them off but if they continue to serve the intoxicated person then its on the bartender. But the drunk person should know their limits as well. — Batavia Patch Facebook

Jill Johnson: I think it is a combination of the three. The biggest person at fault(in my opinion) are these same patrons that continue to cause havoc at the numerous bars in town. At some point these people need to grow up and learn how to properly behave at a bar. They need to learn that it is OK to go out and have a good time, as long as they don't end up in fights or creating scenes. The owners are also at fault if they decide to keep letting the same people in time after time. This is where the city needs to step in. It is in no way the city's fault that there is trouble between establishments and patrons. With that being said, this is where the city has a responsibility to come down on the business that continues to cross these lines. Bigger fines and honestly, shut them down for a weekend. See what happens when they are not able to make any money for a couple of days. One of these days, someone is going to get hurt. — Geneva Patch Facebook

Sara Arlene 'Leavitt' Turner: Honestly if u r 21 u r an adult and u r responsible for your own actions. U drink u fight your fault. U made the choice not te bar bouncer server or bartender. U and only u. Lets act like adults and be responsible and then this would not even be a conversation. No onesies u drink and no one makes u fight. Grow up and be responsible for yourself!!! — St. Charles Patch Facebook

So what's your take? Tell us in the comments. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORS HAD TO SAY IN PAST TRI-CITIES TALKS.