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Five businesses cited for alcohol violations
Two managers upset with citations
alcohol

      Editorial: Pettiness of alcohol ordinance on display yet again

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http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/252/article/33243/

      During a recent compliance sweep, five out of 13 businesses checked were cited for violations of the city's alcohol ordinance, said Statesboro Public Safety Director Wendell Turner.
      Statesboro Police conducted compliance checks last Thursday at several local restaurants and bars licensed for on-premises consumption of alcohol, he said.
      And while they don't dispute employees may have been in violation of ordinances, managers at two of the five businesses cited are unhappy with what they believe is selective enforcement.
      Mike Hall, manager of Buffalo's off Lanier Drive, said two employees of his establishment apparently were violating pricing ordinances. Matthew Meehan and Christian Bennett received citations for eight counts each of violation of pricing alcoholic beverages.
      "I love the fact that the police department is enforcing the law, but I don't feel like they should be singling out certain businesses," Hall said. "There's been a lot of (more serious) violations elsewhere that I see."
      Hall pointed to offenses such as selling alcohol to underage patrons, and having to deal with people with fake IDs or having an older person purchase alcohol as far worse than pricing issues.
      According to the city alcohol ordinance, businesses can cut the price of drinks with alcohol between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. only and by no more than half of the regular price. In other words, a $3 beer or drink could be reduced in price to $1.50 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., if a business chooses.
      Also, the ordinance states that no alcohol can be sold after 1 a.m.
      Buffalo's has had trouble with alcohol violations before. Earlier this year, the restaurant was charged with sale of alcohol to underage persons. As a result of the case, Buffalo's alcohol license was suspended for two days recently, said Ron Huckaby with the Georgia Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau.
      Millhouse Steakhouse also was cited during that same compliance check, but since it was only the restaurant's first violation, Millhouse was allowed to continue serving alcohol. Buffalo's was ordered to cease serving for two days because it was a second violation within a certain time period, he said.
      At Kbob Kelly's on South Main Street, one employee was cited Thursday. Allan Battles was charged with three counts of violation of pricing alcoholic beverages, said manager Brian Kelly.
      The violation was serving a pitcher of beer to a single person, Kelly said. That's illegal in the City of Statesboro.
      The ordinance states that a server can only serve a pitcher of beer to two or more people, to share. Kelly said the ordinance makes no sense to him.
      "It's bizarre. I could legally sell you 100 ounces if I split it into two glasses - even 200 ounces," he said. But, serving a 48-ounce "pitcher" to one individual is against the rules, he said.
      The ordinances have not been enforced "in five years, and other places have ‘drink until you drown,' reverse happy hour where they give you a free beer to come into the bar instead of you paying a cover charge," Kelly said. "Their Facebook pages show these specials."
      Kelly did not identify which restaurants he was referring to.
      Turner said 13 businesses were checked for compliance with alcohol ordinances Thursday.
      "The compliance check was a result of numerous complaints received in reference to violations of the City of Statesboro alcohol ordinance," he said.
      Kelly said he believes the complaints came from "bar owners tattling on each other."
      Serving a pitcher of beer to a person of age is not as serious as having illegal drink specials, he said. Police are "selectively enforcing which (part of the) ordinance they want to uphold."
      Calls Monday to the other three businesses cited - Dos Primos, Rude Rudy's, and Southern Billiards, went unanswered.
      Dos Primos employee Halil Cecen was cited for three counts of violation of pricing alcoholic beverages. Dos Primos is located off Lanier Drive.
      At Rude Rudy's, located in University Plaza, employees Cameron Hudson, Gabriel Gunn, Kyle Weber, David New, Derek Todd and Jonathan Starkey were all cited for violation of hours of sale. Starkey was also cited for violation of pricing of alcoholic beverages.
      At Southern Billiards, employee Jim Rushing was cited for two counts of violation of hours of sale and two counts of violation of pricing of alcoholic beverages.
      Employee Katlyn Wetmore was also cited for violation of hours of sale and two counts of violation of pricing of alcoholic beverages. Maxwell Watson was charged with violation of hours of sale.
      The individuals cited would face Statesboro Municipal Court Judge Keith Barber and pay fines, Turner said.
      The businesses receiving the citations will be reviewed by the Statesboro City Council to determine what punitive steps, if any, would be taken.
      Repeated violations of alcohol ordinances could result in the suspension or loss of a license to sell alcoholic beverages, Turner said.

      Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.

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