76.92%	Drunk and Disorderly
17.03%	Family Friendly

Comment: I think it depends on the time of day. I don't think it's always family friendly but I also don't see that it is always drunk and disorderly. I go to the Old Port at night a lot and find that there is rarely a problem that should be cause for alarm. What is there for "families" to do in the Old Port anyway? I certainly do not think that people should bring their children out to the Old Port after 10PM as it likely is not a place for families at that time of night but even during the day there is not a lot of family oriented activities going on. Or I have missed something? It's possible. from Cumberland by Laurie

Comment: every time you turn around,the old port is on the news.I'd say from what i have seen,the old port is not popular,because you have a lot of trouble makers that hang out and that is bad news for the business. from augusta,me. by sandy

Comment: No it family plane From Jacob bartley from Falmouth,Maine by Jacob

Comment: The Old port is family friendly by day with shopping and resturants and a watering hole by night. You just need to visit when best suited for yourself. from Harpswell by Kevin

Comment: I don't drink so no need for me to be there. There is no way you'll catch me anywhere near the Old Port after 6pm, particularly on Friday. Can't pay me to go down there! from Standish by Stephanie

Comment: Family friendly...Are you kidding me!!!

Comment: I have not been in the Old Port after hours for many years but when I have been there with my family in the early evening (9-10pm) it can be sketchy. from Bath, ME by Amy

Comment: The Old Port has been a drunk and drunker place for a very long time. I am 60 and long before I came along it was the place for sailor's and roges. Does anyone remember Jo and neno's? long long time. Dottie from sabattus by dottie

Comment: I do not go to the bars anywhere but i know that the old port becomes very scary after dark from Lewiston Me by Emma

Comment: I think The old port Isnt a place where i would bring my kids too.. Too many people drinking and be nasty... from Biddeford by Corina

Comment: its a mix of both i have partied in the old port when i lived out in south portland and there are some people that do know how to have fun but know the limits but then again there is a group that take it to far. You are showing what its like in the summer times at night not what its like during the winter times when its not tour season from Madison, Maine by Eric

Comment: As a newly 21 year old I went to the Old Port ONE time to drink with friends. All night I witnessed exactly what you showed in your piece. I'm a country girl and all of that fighting and drunkeness scared me! from Richmond, Me by Leslie

Comment: As a 25 year old about to get married, my family and friends wanted to get together and go out. I would rather go to a small lounge and enjoy myself, then head out to the old port and fear what will happen when I am there. It is horrible. I really hope there is change in the near future. from South Portland by Nicole

Comment: The City of Portland has created its own monster allowing so many bars in a relatively confined area.If they can restrict the distance a bar is from a church or school,they can restrict how far they are from each other.The place is a Zoo after 10 P.M. by Eric

Comment: I have lived in a few cities in my life. The reason that The Old Port is so Disorderly is because all of the bars close at the same time. It is releasing the wild onto the streets all at once. What should be done is that the 1:00 last call/close time should be different at different clubs/bars which will drastically drop the amount of chaos that goes on right after 1am. As i said before, This WORKS in other Cities to keep the streets less flooded and the fights to a minimum. from Old Orchard Beach by Chad

Comment: I personally feel that the old port has its time for both the family crowds and the fun drinking crowds. I lived in portland for most of my life and dont think that the old port is a bad place its just getting bum deal. it seems as if the city of portland is trying to turn the old port into shops and tourist area rather than a hot spot for residence that are here all the time. reminds me of oob now and other towns that are trying to get rid of bars and pubs because of the so called "drunk and disorderly" crowds. its just not right. from auburn, me by danielle

Comment: It sees to me that the Portland pPolice need to do evrytghing that the need to do with tin the confines of the law in forder to control disorderly conduct. from AUBURN, MAINE by PATRICK

Comment: At night it looks like Maine's version of Mardi Gras!!!! from Union by Debbie

Comment: IF YOU HAVE ALL THOSE BARS IN ONE SPOT YOU HAVE TO EXPECT PROBLEMS I THINK IT IS FAMILY FRIENDLY DURING DAY LIGHT HOURS ONLY.. from PORTLAND,ME by JIM

Comment: I'M A CAB DRIVER AND I SEE IT ALL AND AS FAR AS THE POLICE CLEANING IT UP THTA'S BULL , THE BAR OWNERS JUST KEEP PUSHING THE DRINKS TO MAKE MONEY AND THE POLICE DO NOTHING ! ! ! ! ! JUST LIKE THE 50'S PUB IN BIDDEFORD WHEN THE BAR CLOSES ! from BIDDEFORD , MAINE by KEVIN

Comment: I feel that most bars are more concerned about their bottom line but ask them if they ever served an intoxicated patron and they will say no. by Philip

Comment: I used to be a bouncer in the Old Port back when all of the bars were opened. It is a necessary place for old and young people alike to go out and have fun. Yes fights happen. But they happen EVERYWHERE at anytime !! You can't specifically target an area because there happens to be a lot of fights. That is unfair. Maine already has an avenue of having absolutely NOTHING to do. Maine is not fun, there is no place where you can go and enjoy yourself. You take away the Old Port and leave us with absolutely nothing to do, there will be a rise in criminal activity. Whether it be partying at houses or just in the streets. YES something needs to be done about the amount of FIGHTS but to target a specific area is ridiculous and I AM ABSOLUTELY APPALLED !! This has nothing to do with the OLD PORT but it has to do with LACK OF OPTIONS of stuff for us Younger people to do. It's not like we live in Florida where we can go to Disney, Sea World, or Busch Gardens. It's not like we live in L.A. where we can go walk around HOLLYWOOD and look at the STARS and check out all that it has to offer. THE STATE OF MAINE is boring. There is nothing to do. So when us Younger people see that there is a place where we can all go and hang out and have a good time, we are going to do it. The problem is not the OLD PORT. IT IS ALCOHOL !! Bartenders need to do a better job on observing who should be cut off and who should be kicked out of the establishment for being too drunk.(MOST OF THE TIME THEY DO A GREAT TIME AND I WOULD NEVER DISCREDIT THE BARTENDERS OF THE OLD PORT. THEY HAVE A HARD ENOUGH JOB DEALING WITH THE HIGH VOLUME OF PEOPLE. MAYBE THESE ESTABLISHMENTS SHOULD BETTER STAFF THEMSELVES TO OBSERVE AND HANDLE POTENTIAL ISSUES BEFORE THEY GET OUT OF HAND) This is not an OLD PORT problem. This is a MAINE problem not giving us enough options for stuff to do after a long hard work week. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM US IN THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES?? We are all stressed to the max and yes you throw alcohol into the mix there is going to be issues.. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.. Whether it is in SKOWHEGAN, BANGOR, AUGUSTA, BOSTON, NEW YORK CITY, LOS ANGELOS, OR PORTLAND MAINE !! Why doesn't the Maine government or the CITY of Portland try and find a different approach to offer more of a selection of activities for us to do !! No matter where you go.. there will be PUNKS and TROUBLEMAKERS.. It's wrong to single out everyone because of the few. That is wrong. from Portland, Maine by Matthew

Comment: The Old Port has lost it's soul; there are far too many bars; there should be more affordable establishments,that emphasize wholesome, healthy,creative living;more family friendly places also; it's all hotels and bars, and overpriced boutiques;Portland does'nt need all these bars;the Old Port needs to be taken back! It's lost its' authenticity,in a way; it used to be a very inspiring place to work and visit.I sincerely hope it can regain its'charm, and be the safe lovely place that it once was,just 30 years ago,when it was all so lovingly restored.Victoria from Portland Maine by Victoria

Comment: Every merchant that sells alcohol pays a very high price for this police presence in the Old Port and it is time for the police patrol to be more proactive. They stand in groups of five or more by the parking garage on Four St. and across from The Oasis on Wharf St.chatting and watching the girls go by. It is not possible to see the public drinking, unination,altercations,ect. ect. with your back to the crowd. p.s. tickets are not written for public urination from Portland ME by Sandi

Comment: The Old Port is very family friendly during the day (although this part of town is dubious after 11PM). My concern is that Maine families and tourist alike will be turned off by the negative press and, therefore, miss out on The Old Port's rich history, art, culture, and music that our great city has to offer. Moreover, I give historical walking tours of the Old Port as a volunteer Docent for Portland Landmarks. I don't see any problem during the day in the area. I ask that you please be more specific about the time of day that is a concern in the Old Port so that day trippers are not threatened. from Kennebunk, Maine by Leigh

Comment: I don't think it's family friendly I use to go to the bars but stopped because people can't handle their boose and fight in and out of the bars that's why I stopped going. from Sanford by Sue

Comment: My family has come from nyc and notice at night it is a drunk and disorderly place.People intoxicated to the point the block out from portland,me by stacey

Comment: It is on Friday and Saturday nights. I like going down and part near Bill's Pizza when the bars close. Fun people watching from Portland, Maine by Lorrraine

Comment: As a cab driver working the night shift, few people have a better perspective on the nature of the Old Port at night. The Portland Police Chief's assessment is absolutely accurate. Every night you see people passed out in the street or on the sidewalk, vomiting and urinating on the sidewalk, on buildings, in the backseats of taxis, etc. Fights and brawls, not to mention the occasional shooting or stabbing are all too commonplace. Anyone who doubts this merely has to take a stroll down Fore Street, Dana Street, or Wharf Street around midnight. The only time the Old Port is family friendly is during the day before the bars open. from Portland by Gordon

Comment: i think over all its a family friendly environment. No matter where you go that have a bunch of bars grouped together its going to get loud and busy at Night. That should be expected. by Kelly