JEFF ZERINGUE
MANAGING EDITOR

A prefiled bill for the upcoming legislative session, if passed, would allow barbershops, cosmetologists and day spas to serve alcohol to their customers.

According to the bill by state Rep. Jerry “Truck” Gisclair, D-Larose, you could be served a couple of glasses of wine, a beer or a shot of liquor when you go to a barbershop or beauty parlor.

Advertisement

The bill has its limits. If you’re drinking wine, you could have two 5-ounce glasses. If it’s beer you want, the limit is one 12-ounce glass. If liquor is what you prefer — such as whiskey, vodka or gin — you could have a total of 2 ounces. However, customers can’t be charged for the alcohol.

Could be that some customers are a bit nervous when they go to the barbershop or beauty parlor? A new “do” could give one a bit of anxiety, so why not be able to settle the nerves of the customers with a little nip?

Mr. Gisclair said the franchised day spas many women go to already serve things like champagne. When some of his constituents with similar businesses asked if they could serve alcohol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms told them they would need regular alcohol distribution licenses costing hundreds of dollars. Mr. Gisclair’s solution is this bill. The fee associated with this bill is $50 for the initial license, $25 to renew each year. The money goes to the ATF.

His bill is modeled after a similar one in Virginia, Mr. Gisclair said. By giving away the alcohol, the license is different than a distributor’s. Limiting the allowed amount seems like a good idea. It is understandable cosmetologists would not want their customers getting smashed since they have all those sharp objects around.

Serving the alcohol could be a bit tricky, too. With all the hair that is falling as barbers practice their trade, it’s likely that you could get some hair in your glass. Of course you wouldn’t necessarily know if it’s your hair, ugh.

Mr. Gisclair said this is just a way for barbers and beauty shops to do what some “female spas” have been doing for years — but they are not called to task by the ATF.

The tune, however, “Shave and hair cut, and a beer,” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

JEFF ZERINGUE

MANAGING EDITOR