It’s Five O'Clock Somewhere

By Andrew Jenkins in Food on Oct 12, 2006 12:52PM

Let's say you just finished your graveyard shift at a local Berwyn manufacturing plant. It's 6:00 a.m., and you want what any red-blooded American worker wants when she/he gets off work: an ice cold can of Hamm's in your favorite pub.

Well, if the Berwyn aldermen have their way, that scenario might no longer be a possibility. Proposed legislation in the area is looking to prohibit bars from opening before ten o'clock in the morning, in hopes of maintaining the family-friendly vibe Berwyn is going for.

Apparently the popularity and social acceptance of morning drinking has slowly diminished as blue-collar jobs have moved away. Berwyn Mayor Michael O'Connor told the Tribune that his constituents have voiced concerns that their city might turn into Cicero. Ouch. Needless to say, Cicero peeps resented that remark and pointed out that their bars are not allowed to open until 8:00 a.m.

Alderman Mark Weiner, a proponent of the Berwyn ordinance, says that he has seen folks “staggering” out of George’s Tavern (6741 Stanley Ave.) early in the morning as people wait to board the nearby Metra trains. Of course, if the Metra is running on schedule, those commuters should make it to the city just in time for the Chicago bars to open — 7:00 a.m., six days a week.