Fletcher, Justice.
The owner of a nude dancing club challenges the constitutionality of a city ordinance prohibiting the sale of alcohol at an erotic dance establishment. We hold the provision in the Adult Entertainment Establishment Ordinance is narrowly drawn to promote the city’s interest in combating the secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments. Because the ordinance does not violate either free speech or equal protection, we affirm the trial court’s denial of a declaratory judgment and permanent injunction.
B. Don Gravely sought a license to sell alcoholic beverages at [204]*204Platinum Plus, a nude dancing establishment that he has operated in the City of Smyrna since 1991. See Inner Visions, Ltd. v. City of Smyrna, 260 Ga. 902 (400 SE2d 915) (1991). Max Bacon, the mayor of Smyrna, and the city council denied the license based on a city ordinance prohibiting erotic dance establishments from selling alcohol. Gravely filed an action in federal court seeking to enjoin enforcement of the Smyrna Adult Entertainment Establishment Ordinance. The district court denied Gravely’s motion for a preliminary injunction on the grounds that he failed to establish a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. Gravely dismissed his federal complaint and filed an action in state court, seeking a declaratory judgment that the Smyrna ordinance is unconstitutional and an injunction prohibiting its enforcement. The trial court found the ordinance constitutional because it limits the liquor prohibition to an “erotic dance establishment” and denied the requested relief.
Gravely challenges provisions that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverage at “erotic dance establishments” or where “professional belly dancers, strip dancing, exotic dancing, or any exhibitions of any like kind” are performed at “a restaurant, lounge, or private club.” Smyrna Code Sec. 14-166 (g); Sec. 3-75.1 An “erotic dance establishment” is defined as
a nightclub, theater, or other establishment which features live performances by topless and/or bottomless dancers, go-go dancers, strippers or similar entertainers, where such performances are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
Sec. 14-165 (i). The ordinance lists seven “specified sexual activities”2 [205]*205and defines “specified anatomical areas” as “[l]ess than completely and opaquely covered human genitals or pubic region; buttock; or female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola” or “[h]uman male genitalia in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.” Id. (o). These definitions have been upheld repeatedly as not overbroad. See, e.g., Young v. American Mini Theatres, 427 U. S. 50, 53 (96 SC 2440, 49 LE2d 310) (1976).
1. Nude dancing is protected expression under the free speech clauses of both the United States and Georgia Constitutions. Barnes v. Glen Theatre, 501 U. S. __ (111 SC 2456, 2468, 115 LE2d 504) (1991); Pel Asso v. Joseph, 262 Ga. 904 (427 SE2d 264) (1993). To determine whether a law regulating conduct such as nude dancing impermissibly infringes on protected expression, this court must consider whether (1) the act furthers an important government interest; (2) the government interest is unrelated to the suppression of speech; and (3) the incidental restriction of speech is no greater than is essential to further the government interest. See Paramount Pictures Corp. v. Busbee, 250 Ga. 252, 256 (297 SE2d 250) (1982).
A carefully and narrowly drawn regulatory scheme which makes appropriate distinctions between public and private behavior and which impacts only those modes of expression which, in the experience of local governments, tend to be the focal points of negative effects such as increased crime, can pass constitutional muster notwithstanding some restriction of protected expression.
Pel Asso, 262 Ga. at 907.
Gravely does not dispute that the Smyrna ordinance furthers the important government interests in reducing criminal activity and protecting the deterioration of neighborhoods engendered by adult entertainment establishments. See Intl. Eateries of America v. Broward County, 941 F2d 1157, 1163 (11th Cir. 1991). He also does not deny that this interest in combating the secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments is unrelated to the suppression of speech. See City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, 475 U. S. 41, 49 (106 SC 925, 89 LE2d 29) (1986). Gravely argues that the ordinance fails to meet the third prong of the Paramount test because the ordinance is not narrowly drawn to exclude mainstream entertainment, such as the opera “Salome,” the play “Hair,” or nude ballet.
2. This court has struck down as overbroad a state statute and local ordinances that were not narrowly drawn to further the govern-[206]*206merit’s interest in preventing the illegal activity associated with adult entertainment establishments offering nude dancing and alcohol. See Pel Asso v. Joseph, 262 Ga., supra; Yarbrough v. City of Carrollton, 262 Ga. 444 (421 SE2d 72) (1992); Harris v. Entertainment Systems, 259 Ga. 701 (386 SE2d 140) (1989). In Harris, we found that the statute was overbroad because it went
beyond prohibiting nude dancing in bars. This [state] Act applies to a host of other establishments besides bars, [including] mainstream performance houses and museums, which need licenses to sell alcoholic beverages to their patrons for consumption on the premises.
259 Ga. at 703-704; accord Yarbrough, 262 Ga. at 445. The over-breadth flaw in the Pel Asso ordinance was its failure to limit the ban on partial nude dancing to public places that cause the undesirable secondary effects. See 262 Ga. at 904.
The rules of statutory construction require this court to construe a statute as valid when possible. See City of Hapeville v. Anderson, 246 Ga. 786, 787 (272 SE2d 713) (1980). A “statute should not be deemed facially invalid unless it is not readily subject to a narrowing construction.” Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville, 422 U. S. 205, 216 (95 SC 2268, 45 LE2d 125) (1975); see State v. Miller, 260 Ga. 669, 674 (398 SE2d 547) (1990). Construing the definition of “erotic dance establishments” in conjunction with the ordinance’s purpose,3 we interpret the challenged provision as limited to adult dance entertainment businesses that studies have shown produce undesirable secondary effects.4 The ordinance applies to “topless or bottomless dancers, go-go dancers, strippers or similar entertainers” whose public performance conveys an erotic message distinguished by an emphasis on sexual activities or anatomical areas. Cf. Airport Book Store v. Jackson, 242 Ga. 214, 223 (248 SE2d 623) (1978) (upholding ordinance [207]*207regulating adult establishments where performances “partake more of sexuality than of communication”), cert. denied, 441 U. S. 952 (1979).
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Fletcher, Justice.
The owner of a nude dancing club challenges the constitutionality of a city ordinance prohibiting the sale of alcohol at an erotic dance establishment. We hold the provision in the Adult Entertainment Establishment Ordinance is narrowly drawn to promote the city’s interest in combating the secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments. Because the ordinance does not violate either free speech or equal protection, we affirm the trial court’s denial of a declaratory judgment and permanent injunction.
B. Don Gravely sought a license to sell alcoholic beverages at [204]*204Platinum Plus, a nude dancing establishment that he has operated in the City of Smyrna since 1991. See Inner Visions, Ltd. v. City of Smyrna, 260 Ga. 902 (400 SE2d 915) (1991). Max Bacon, the mayor of Smyrna, and the city council denied the license based on a city ordinance prohibiting erotic dance establishments from selling alcohol. Gravely filed an action in federal court seeking to enjoin enforcement of the Smyrna Adult Entertainment Establishment Ordinance. The district court denied Gravely’s motion for a preliminary injunction on the grounds that he failed to establish a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. Gravely dismissed his federal complaint and filed an action in state court, seeking a declaratory judgment that the Smyrna ordinance is unconstitutional and an injunction prohibiting its enforcement. The trial court found the ordinance constitutional because it limits the liquor prohibition to an “erotic dance establishment” and denied the requested relief.
Gravely challenges provisions that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverage at “erotic dance establishments” or where “professional belly dancers, strip dancing, exotic dancing, or any exhibitions of any like kind” are performed at “a restaurant, lounge, or private club.” Smyrna Code Sec. 14-166 (g); Sec. 3-75.1 An “erotic dance establishment” is defined as
a nightclub, theater, or other establishment which features live performances by topless and/or bottomless dancers, go-go dancers, strippers or similar entertainers, where such performances are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
Sec. 14-165 (i). The ordinance lists seven “specified sexual activities”2 [205]*205and defines “specified anatomical areas” as “[l]ess than completely and opaquely covered human genitals or pubic region; buttock; or female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola” or “[h]uman male genitalia in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.” Id. (o). These definitions have been upheld repeatedly as not overbroad. See, e.g., Young v. American Mini Theatres, 427 U. S. 50, 53 (96 SC 2440, 49 LE2d 310) (1976).
1. Nude dancing is protected expression under the free speech clauses of both the United States and Georgia Constitutions. Barnes v. Glen Theatre, 501 U. S. __ (111 SC 2456, 2468, 115 LE2d 504) (1991); Pel Asso v. Joseph, 262 Ga. 904 (427 SE2d 264) (1993). To determine whether a law regulating conduct such as nude dancing impermissibly infringes on protected expression, this court must consider whether (1) the act furthers an important government interest; (2) the government interest is unrelated to the suppression of speech; and (3) the incidental restriction of speech is no greater than is essential to further the government interest. See Paramount Pictures Corp. v. Busbee, 250 Ga. 252, 256 (297 SE2d 250) (1982).
A carefully and narrowly drawn regulatory scheme which makes appropriate distinctions between public and private behavior and which impacts only those modes of expression which, in the experience of local governments, tend to be the focal points of negative effects such as increased crime, can pass constitutional muster notwithstanding some restriction of protected expression.
Pel Asso, 262 Ga. at 907.
Gravely does not dispute that the Smyrna ordinance furthers the important government interests in reducing criminal activity and protecting the deterioration of neighborhoods engendered by adult entertainment establishments. See Intl. Eateries of America v. Broward County, 941 F2d 1157, 1163 (11th Cir. 1991). He also does not deny that this interest in combating the secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments is unrelated to the suppression of speech. See City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, 475 U. S. 41, 49 (106 SC 925, 89 LE2d 29) (1986). Gravely argues that the ordinance fails to meet the third prong of the Paramount test because the ordinance is not narrowly drawn to exclude mainstream entertainment, such as the opera “Salome,” the play “Hair,” or nude ballet.
2. This court has struck down as overbroad a state statute and local ordinances that were not narrowly drawn to further the govern-[206]*206merit’s interest in preventing the illegal activity associated with adult entertainment establishments offering nude dancing and alcohol. See Pel Asso v. Joseph, 262 Ga., supra; Yarbrough v. City of Carrollton, 262 Ga. 444 (421 SE2d 72) (1992); Harris v. Entertainment Systems, 259 Ga. 701 (386 SE2d 140) (1989). In Harris, we found that the statute was overbroad because it went
beyond prohibiting nude dancing in bars. This [state] Act applies to a host of other establishments besides bars, [including] mainstream performance houses and museums, which need licenses to sell alcoholic beverages to their patrons for consumption on the premises.
259 Ga. at 703-704; accord Yarbrough, 262 Ga. at 445. The over-breadth flaw in the Pel Asso ordinance was its failure to limit the ban on partial nude dancing to public places that cause the undesirable secondary effects. See 262 Ga. at 904.
The rules of statutory construction require this court to construe a statute as valid when possible. See City of Hapeville v. Anderson, 246 Ga. 786, 787 (272 SE2d 713) (1980). A “statute should not be deemed facially invalid unless it is not readily subject to a narrowing construction.” Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville, 422 U. S. 205, 216 (95 SC 2268, 45 LE2d 125) (1975); see State v. Miller, 260 Ga. 669, 674 (398 SE2d 547) (1990). Construing the definition of “erotic dance establishments” in conjunction with the ordinance’s purpose,3 we interpret the challenged provision as limited to adult dance entertainment businesses that studies have shown produce undesirable secondary effects.4 The ordinance applies to “topless or bottomless dancers, go-go dancers, strippers or similar entertainers” whose public performance conveys an erotic message distinguished by an emphasis on sexual activities or anatomical areas. Cf. Airport Book Store v. Jackson, 242 Ga. 214, 223 (248 SE2d 623) (1978) (upholding ordinance [207]*207regulating adult establishments where performances “partake more of sexuality than of communication”), cert. denied, 441 U. S. 952 (1979).
This narrowing construction means the ordinance does not prohibit the live performance of plays, operas, or ballets at theatres, concert halls, museums, educational institutions, or similar establishments. These establishments have not been shown to contribute to increased crime and neighborhood blight, and the performances do not communicate an erotic message with an emphasis on specified sexual activities or anatomical areas. Nor does the ordinance extend to private conduct or public entertainment that does not involve live performances, such as television shows, motion pictures, or museums, in contrast to the ordinance invalidated in Pel Asso and the statute struck down in Harris.
As interpreted, the Smyrna ordinance’s incidental restriction on the protected expression of nude dancing at adult dance establishments is no greater than is essential to protect the government’s interest in preventing unwanted secondary effects. Therefore, it does not restrict protected expression in violation of the federal or state free speech clauses.5
3. The ordinance also does not violate equal protection. Even applying a heightened level of scrutiny because the fundamental right of free expression is involved, a city may classify and regulate adult entertainment establishments differently from other places of entertainment. See Airport Book Store, 242 Ga. at 221.
Judgment affirmed.
All the Justices concur, except Hunt, P. J., and Carley, J., who concur in the judgment only, and Sears-Collins, J., who dissents.