Last call: Under the influence in a culture of risk

By: Mallory Kruml and Alex Frick

Outlets: Port Townsend Leader

Published: March 18, 2026

Words: 1,594

Last Updated: 3 days, 3 hours ago

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As bartenders shout last call, conversations around pool tables and dart boards quickly shift to carpools and dreaded long walks home — and to friends waiting on that reassuring “home safe” text.

Back at the bar sits a regular, stuck in a place somewhere between the responsible choice and reaching for their keys.

Outside, beyond the neon lights, patrol cars circle — perhaps more frequently than ever.

In Port Townsend, that heightened presence is more …

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