MACON, Ga. — One year ago Macon-Bibb leaders approved a "last call" ordinance that shook up downtown Macon nightlife in a 5 to 4 vote.
The ordinance set an earlier curfew for bars and clubs from 3 a.m. to 2 a.m. in an effort to decrease violence in the area.
Alfye Gore has worked as the bar manager of Daiquiris & More for 3 years.
"Nightlife in Macon has definitely developed over time," Gore said. "It has evolved since I've been here for past three to four years now."
But over the past year, she and bar owner Jeremy Jackson have seen a more controlled environment along MLK Boulevard.
"We have seen large crowds kind of gathering and spilling over into the streets a little bit," Jackson said. "That's when we have seen Bibb County Sheriff's Department actually come out and do a little bit better of a job of keeping everybody corralled."
Since the county issued the 2 a.m. for bars and clubs a year ago, Jackson and Gore say they haven't seen a negative change to their business.
Daiquiris & More closed at 2 a.m., even before the ordinance, but they say they have noticed more deputies on the street.
Major Tonnie Williams increased patrols from 3 officers to 10 officers downtown when the ordinance passed.
"Presence is key to stemming a lot of problems that may occur," said Williams. "Crimes that were being committed at that time, we have not been dealing with them and we truly have not had an increase in it. We allocated more manpower presence downtown, especially on Friday, Thursday, and Saturday nights to address this."
Patrons leaving the bar around closing time are met with increased patrols on the street to disperse crowds.
The ordinance also eliminated the one-hour gap between when alcohol service ends and when businesses close.
But bars like Daiquiris & More say they have seen a positive effect on the street.
"Bar owners around here, we are willing to even pay the extra whatever it is to have that presence here in order to keep the crimes from being up," Gore said.
Major Williams says the Sheriff's Office expects the decrease in violence to continue with the earlier curfew.