A Post Wherein I Correct The AP
There’s been much merriment made over the ridiculous policy of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to go ‘trolling bars looking for drunk people (much like scouring Las Vegas for gamblers, in my view). It’s not funny to the bar owners, however, and I take issue with this far-too-believing AP dispatch:
The state of Texas said it has suspended a crackdown on public drunkenness after an outcry over the program that sends undercover officers into bars and taverns.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission had announced last week that it was reviewing the program.
Spokeswoman Carolyn Beck said Wednesday the agency decided to put it on hold “just to give us time to sift through all the information we’ve received … and determine the best way to proceed.”
Well, isn’t that nice of them? They’re responding to the public and making changes out of the goodness of their hearts…bull.
One of the clubs hardest hit by this program is the Dallas Night Club in Austin (no typo there – it’s really the Dallas Night Club here in Austin). Now my clubbing days are pretty much over, but I’ve been to this establishment many times, and it was long renowned as one of the best places in town for gazing at beautiful singles of the opposite sex for guys and gals, and for its busy bar and dance floor.
I have friends who still frequent the place for both both dancing and gazing, and their reports of the effect of the TABC’s targeting have been alarming. One of the busiest spots in town has become a ghost town, and only a fool would deny that Dallas has been deliberately (and unfairly) singled out in a town with hundreds of bars.
Long story short, the TABC didn’t stop this program because they are responding to the public; instead, they’re responding to being sued by the owners of Dallas:
Dallas Night Club is suing the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, accusing the state agency of unfairly targeting the bar and using an inconsistent standard to decide when patrons are legally drunk.
“The TABC has embarked on a deliberate and knowing course of conduct to drive Dallas out of business,” says the lawsuit, which attorney Jesse R. Castillo said was mailed to U.S. District Court in Austin on Monday. “Dallas has lost the bulk of its clientele and millions of dollars in revenue.”
Believe me when I tell you that those damage claims are not exaggerated in the slightest. The use of government power to unfairly target small business owners is outrageous, and as someone who seldom drinks or goes out anymore, I have no vested interest in this other than to see a business owner vindicated. Mark me down as a friend of the plaintiff…
Comrades,
I’ll do you one better. Up where I live was a really nice little bar, one that many of the blue collar types frequented. The owners sold out and a nice lady bought the place, put a lot of time and money iit and reopened. It was a hit.
Then, for some reason, the local cops took a dislike to the new owner. Rumours flew wildly about why, but suffice to say, she was going down and fast. the cops started by parking a cruiser directly in front of the bar, around 10pm each night.
After a week or so of this, they started to randomly walk through the bar, asking patrons for ID. Within 3 weeks, business was dead. No one local went hear the place. She had to close up, file for bankruptcy and the place has been empty for over a year.
This town has been succesful in closing down 4 of the 7 bars and one of the surviving has greatly reduced is floorspace and clientel. The only one that hasn’t been targeted is also the largest, and the owner is a large financial backer of many of the town’s recreational programs. Go figure…
No one dares confront what really is happening, because it’s a small town, per se, and the cops know everyone, and I mean know everyone. Anyone speaks up and they suddenly get a close inspection when they drive for things like windshield washer not working, or rear tag light improperly installed, etc.
I’m hoping things will change soon, but unless you know the rules of the game, you’re going to lose big time. I’m planning on moving in the near future, because around here, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be a good one.
Respects,
Gwedd
[...] The commission recently suspended the program that sent commission agents and local police into bars to arrest what they said were intoxicated patrons. Commission officials are reviewing the program, which was announced Aug. 26. Regular readers may recall that I’ve written on this subject before, and I’ll repeat that my interest is in combatting what I see as an unfair targeting of a small business by state officials. I have no financial interest in this, nor do I know the owners, managers, or any of the bartenders, but I do have friends who have told me how the TABC has basically run one of Austin’s most thriving bar scenes right into the ground. [...]