Car 54, Where Are You? [PHIL-OSOPHY]

So who's going to enforce the new rules, advisories, requests, proclamations, executive orders or whatever you call the latest gubernatorial announcement to stay home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., or close many businesses at 9:30 p.m. and mandatory masks outside?

Officers Francis Muldoon and Gunther Toody, where are you?

The police are closing locations or facing budget cuts – as in defunding – in some places, so forget about calling 911 and reporting any violators. Who has the authority to compel you to do any of that stuff? Oh wait, I forgot about the local Board of Health. Last I heard, they went around and fined some mom-and-pops for not wearing face masks.

As if these absurd rulings haven't crippled enough businesses already, just think of the enormous extra loss this is going to have on Black Friday holiday sales. I stopped in my tracks when I saw liquor stores must cease alcohol sales at 9:30 p.m., but the good news is the liquor store may continue to sell other products, like beer nuts. Now that I think of it, maybe the liquor stores should start thinking about putting together Frito-Lay gift baskets for the holidays.

I want you to help me reason this out. Governor Charlie Baker is putting the strong-arm on restaurants and stores selling alcohol. Do you think he wants to crack down on alcohol because clusters of people drink and socialize when they are chillin', and spreading COVID-19 at the same time? So if he holds down alcohol sales, does he think he'll get a healthier outcome with less positive cases of the coronavirus?

Excuse me while I run and get a couple of bags of chips.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.