The Observer’s official Paid to Party gal Tonya Jameson makes way too much sense with her ideas on how to curb underage club hopping in Charlotte.
First, note even ultra-hip Tonya sees a looming problem behind the recent arrest of an Uptown club employee on charges of providing alcohol to minors. Fuddy-duddy me couldn’t tell if that was an exception or a rule. If Jameson says underage party chicks are no exception for Charlotte nitelife, then we better pay attention.
Second, she calls on the clubs to do a better job of policing themselves. Adding a debit card to a picture ID as a required forms — plural — of ID would cut back on the fake ID biz, Jameson suggests. She also thinks that clubs should not serve any alcohol on “college nights” and strictly limit the crowd to the 18-20 demo.
Here Toyna hones in on the fact that it is not the late night clubs or even really the underage drinking per se that it the big worry. It is the dangerous mix of young girls — 15, 16, 17, even 18 is young — and older men.
Jameson is very blunt, but honest:
I know club owners will think I’m crazy, and some partiers probably will, too. But as much as I love partying, I don’t like seeing young girls act like aspiring porn stars. I want to figure out a way to allow them to have fun, while protecting them from themselves and men who only care about getting an easy lay.
Now here comes the fuddy-duddy again: What if Charlotte’s nitelife is primarily about casual sex?
Meanwhile, clubs need to be on notice. Party, yes. Pimping, no.
And Charlotte parents? Well, if parents of teens, especially girls, are not on high-alert by now, they never will be.
