is this broadcast censorship?

[Larry Weil]

At 11:30 PM -0400 10/23/04, gic wrote:
>I am somewhat surprised that no one has mentioned the fact that 
>Mayor Tom "mumbles" Menino has passed an executive order that tv 
>cameras and reporters will not be allowed in bars during the world 
>series.  What the hell gives him the right to say where cameras and 
>reports can and cannot be filed from? Its none of his business.  If 
>government gets away with this, it will a short hop to telling the 
>media what they can and cannot report about, at least in my opinion. 
>The medias silence on this really surprises me.

I don't think it's censorship.  A bar is private property, but 
licensed by the state to sell liquor.  The owner of a bar can exclude 
anyone he/she wishes (as long as it doesn't violate discrimination 
laws), including reporters and camera crews.  The mayor's order is 
not directed at TV crews, but rather warns the bar owners that they 
risk their licenses if they allow TV crews in their establishments. 
This is much the same as the government requiring your ice cream 
stands to meet standards of sanitation and food preparation, in order 
to insure public safety.

The government licenses establishments to sell liquor, and as such 
has control over the environment and circumstances of such sales. 
Selling alcohol is a privilege and not a right.
-- 
Larry Weil
Lake Wobegone, NH