ANCHORAGE, AK — Sometimes it seems like juice bars, like their below drinking age customers, just can’t get a break. Thanks to a recent federal court decision, the under-21 crowd just lost one more opportunity to get close to one of Alaska’s most precious recourses: sexy women. When U.S. District Judge Tim Burgess determined that a previous Anchorage city ban on lap dances at non-drinking adult entertainment establishments did not violate the First Amendment rights of the dancers, he effectively read a death warrant for Fantasies on 5th Avenue.
At least that’s what the strip clubs co-owner believes.
The October 2005 city ordinance that banned up-close and personal dancing at establishments that cater to adults younger than 21 only affects two clubs, Fantasies and Showboat, and was challenged immediately. Enforcement of the law was postponed until the issue was resolved. That time appears to have come, because municipal attorney Jim Reeves informed the Anchorage Daily News that “We expect they will comply with the law,” effective immediately.
Carol Hartman, co-owner of Fantasies prophecies that “We’ll be out of business in a couple of weeks.”
The owner of six-month old Showboat, Terry Stahlman, is a bit more optimistic, but pragmatic when observing that “It’s going to be rough on my business.”
Officials and citizens like assemblyman Allan Tesche probably aren’t too touched by the business owners’ concerns. Indeed, Tesche, who may have confused strip clubs with something entirely other, declared the clubs places where “you tie these little lambs up to a stake and let the lions come in and feast their eyes, their fantasies, and god knows what else.”
His assembly companion, Dick Traini, informed the press that he disapproves of legally adult women between the ages of 18 and 21 removing their clothing and dancing intimately with men. Because he wasn’t able to find a way to legally restrict them from doing so, he explains that a law was created to target the clubs that have such entertainment but don’t serve alcohol, thus catering to a younger clientele and staff.
Businesses that serve alcohol are regulated by the Alcohol Beverage Control board, which rules since at least the 1990s that touching of “certain body parts” was illegal on licensed property, according to Douglas Griffin. The law now in affect for juice bars goes even further, mandating a four-foot distance between entertainers and audience.
In addition to the ban on lap dances, Fantasies has also been declared off limits to all Anchorage military personnel since April.
