State anti-teenage drinking director opposes new music venues ordinance

Regional News

(L-R) Jessica Phinney, Dawson-Hall County Project Extra Mile, Diane Riibe, Nebraska Project Extra Mile Executive Director

The Omaha City Council has approved a plan that will allow teens younger than 18 to attend concerts at businesses that sell alcohol. To attend such venues, teens will have to submit written permission -- signed by a parent and notarized -- to a business before being allowed in. Nebraska Project Extra Mile Executive Director Diane Riibe says what was missing at Tuesday's council meeting was a leader. Riibe says her organization expressed opposition to the plan, but the council didn't seem to care what effect its decision would have on teens. The ordinance, which would take effect in two weeks, would create a new classification of businesses to be referred to as music venues. Those venues need to have a fixed stage and sound system. Jessica Phinney, Dawson and Hall county Project Extra Mile Coordinator says the Omaha issue is important because the coalition is reviewing community ordinances in the immediate area and across the state regarding minors in bars. Under Lexington's ordinance, minors are not allowed in bars after 9 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent. Ordinances in other communities range from less restrictive to more restrictive.