Teenagers and young adults seem to have no qualms about spending a lot of money on designer clothing in an effort to be fashionable and noticed inside and outside their social realms. The challenges lay in which clubs and bars around town will actually allow them to wear their designer duds and not be judged as a gang member or affiliate. In Calgary, gang activity is growing at a phenomenal rate; 20% of all homicides in the city are gang related. Wearing designer clothing can be a public indicator of gang association.
Young adult patrons of drinking establishments and clubs in Calgary are well aware that wearing designer logos, such as Ed Hardy/Christian Audigier, head wear of virtually any kind, sweat suits, baggy pants, large sneakers ….the list is seemingly endless ….will make them ineligible to enter most popular places around the city, or worse, emit the perception they are a gang member.
Management Focus on Safety
With the average age of a slayed gang members at 20 years old, keeping bars and clubs safe is a major responsibility of all club and bar owners in Calgary. Hudson’s Tap House in Southwest Calgary has become the hot spot for young people on weekends. The floor manager at Hudson’s in Shawnessy states, the police visit them daily, just to make certain there’s no trouble brewing.
He claims that the Gang Squad is no stranger to his restaurant and bar, either. “They will conduct a random sweep through here within a minute, just to make sure things are okay.” It has been rumored that a gang known as The Independent Soldiers has a growing presence in Calgary South. According to the Calgary City Police, "(g)ang members often wear clothes and colours that identify them as being associated with one another. Things like a certain kind of bandana or a certain style of clothes. Sometimes they share unique hand gestures or use nick names chosen by gang members. But, more often you can tell a gang member by how he or she acts." The police state "although there are some exceptions, usually gangs get started for one reason - to commit crimes ..."
With frequent fights at the nearby high schools, it is no surprise that teens of legal drinking age (and many with fake ids) are gravitating to Hudson’s, which becomes a ‘club’ on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights after 11pm when the dance floor is extended. Last Friday night the manager claimed he had nine bouncers staffed to manage any potential outbursts.
Proper Patron Dress Code
One patron, who wished to remain unidentified, stated while chatting with a group of friends at his table last weekend during Spring Break, he turned the brim of his hat to the back of his head. Within a minute, a bouncer requested he remove his cap or turn it right again. A quick read of Hudson’s Dress Code policy shows that no head wear is allowed and this particular patron was allowed to wear his cap at the discretion of management.
In an article “Behavioral Change Through Dress Codes” by Kenneth Lane and Dennis VanBerkum (both educators at California State University and North Dakota State University respectively), discuss the “realization is that gang attire is a current fad among many students who have no affiliation with gangs,” and by restricting their choices of clothing, authorities at both schools and public venues are limiting young people’s freedom of expression.
The manager explained that dress codes are in place to secure the safety and comfort of patrons and by having an extensive list of items on the posted dress code allows the management to alleviate potential or suspected troublemakers without being personal or discriminatory. They are merely enforcing management policies.
Young adults today who frequent bars are frustrated they cannot wear their favourite and high-priced clothing; by default, they now have more money to spend on entertainment and other forms of socialization, while at the same time feeling safer about their surroundings and perceptions of their peers.
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