Possible Alcohol Problem Under Scrutiny

UPDATE: This story was modified from its original version to add additional information about drunk-in-public arrests in Old Town.

Officials plan to explore the possibility that alcohol is becoming a problem in Old Town.

An Old Town subcommittee, made up of two members, will take up a problem brought up by a store owner during a recent meeting, according to City Manager Bob Johnson.

Stephen Eldred, who runs a photography business on Front Street, complained during a meeting Tuesday at the of people getting drunk at Old Town night spots, driving and fighting.

"It's quite out of control," he told City Council members. "It's time to look at this gigantic influx of drinking establishments and the binge drinking that goes on over here."

The city does not know whether over-serving is a problem in the area, but if it is, the subcommittee will find out and recommend action, Johnson said. "We need to stay vigilant," he said. "We don't want it to get out of control."

If an establishment is over-serving, they risk losing their "conditional use permit," which allows them to pour alcohol, Councilman Mike Naggar said. "I would have no hesitation in doing that," he said.

Officials took up the issue in December, and they decided to add additional patrols on bicycles in the area, Johnson said.

The added patrols have helped, Johnson said. "It's been pretty successful," he said. "When you have a presence, that has a positive effect."

Arrests on drunk in public charges are up, but it's uncertain whether that's because the problem is growing or because more deputies are present to make arrests, said Andre O'Harra, the chief of the Temecula Police Department.

"I don't know whether that reflects an increase in peope who were drunk in public or the fact that we... have taken more enforcement action," he said.

The police department was in the process of analyzing statistics on alcohol related incidents to present to the Old Town subcommittee, the chief said.