Unless the trolley driver was drunk, it would not matter at all.

I spent much of the past two evenings at Bank Street Brewhouse, monitoring the weekend trade. We did well both nights, and it was a mellow vibe. Last night there was a good crowd on the patio to listen to the Troubadours of Divine Bliss, and plenty of diners, both inside and on the front patio by the street.

Naturally, beer was being consumed. We are a brewery, after all. I saw many customers first having a meal and a couple of beers with it, and then producing an empty growler to fill and take beer home with them. This struck me as reasonable in the context of a pleasant evening downtown. I’m sure the same pattern holds true at River City Winery.

My point in all this is that we try as best we can to conduct our business responsibly, even as we acknowledge that human perfection is elusive. Any time alcoholic beverages are being served, there are inherent potentialities reflected by the amount of money we pay yearly for liability insurance. Consequently, it would be shortsighted, to say the least, for us to offer liter steins of 10% beer at any time. It would be far less conscionable to do so at a discount on a weekend.

I’ll probably have more to say about these themes in my new “On the Avenues” column this Thursday. Until then, I invite readers to consider the following headlines, read the stories, and see if you have the same reaction as me.

Dale Moss in the Courier-Journal: New Albany beating Jeffersonville in downtown makeovers

Daniel Suddeath in the News and Tribune: New Albany bar owner says Indiana State Police targeting led him to start shuttles

News and Tribune editorial opinion: OUR OPINION: Free rides to bar patrons a good safety, PR move

Jenna Esarey in the Courier-Journal: Tour highlights changes in New Albany's Midtown neighborhood

Why's that last one there? It's because Midtown is within easy walking and biking distance of all the downtown New Albany establishments.

That's what urban living is all about, and to connect the urban center with outlying areas, there's this strange concept called "public transportation," one that most Americans forgot existed when sprawl got subsidized and automobiles became the mandatory national method of asserting deity-ordained "freedom," itself entirely illusory considering the price to keep, maintain and fuel a car.

Matt's van solution is a good one. Too bad a wider network of "mobility solutions" isn't already there.