The city will be much less of a cultural center. He predicted an adverse effect on the economy. One reason people like to live downtown is that bars are within walking distance, he said. People are going to start opening up bars outside of the city. It's a little crowded in here tonight.
Hand lives on James Island only a half-mile from The Reef, a bar in the county that stays open late.
She said the bars should stay open until 4 a.m., at least on Friday night. She doesn't have a car to drive out of the city to another bar. Charleston Police Cpl. Randall McBrayer, vice unit supervisor, said there are about 660 establishments in the city with alcohol licenses and most of them already close at 2 a.m. Charles Hawkins said complaints about noise and disorderly conduct won't go away.