South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade will start earlier to help curb drunkenness, violence

The parade was plagued last year by public drinking, violence, assaults, overcrowding, and disorderly conduct, officials said.After an “anything goes” St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston last year, the celebration will begin an hour and a half earlier in an effort to curb drunkenness and violence. Last year’s parade, which reportedly drew a crowd of 1 million people, seemed to be particularly rowdy. Eleven people were arrested, and Red Line trains had to bypass Broadway Station due to heavy crowds. “It was out of control,” state Sen. Nick Collins, who represents South Boston, said Tuesday. Collins, fellow representative Councilor...