ABSTRACT
The central message of this book is that bar violence is a serious social problem that requires a serious societal response. A serious response means going beyond reactive policing or public education programs that construe the problem solely in terms of individual patron choice and responsibility. It also means understanding the problem in system terms (Holder 1998), including how a deregulated nighttime economy affects the social purposes, culture and environments of drinking establishments, as well as the role of legislative and institutional systems that shape regulatory policies and practices. Finally, it means building new policies and practices on the firm foundation of research evidence.
