“They only allow private clubs or restaurants because bars are just meant to drink,” says Al Bottego, the Asheville ABC board’s chief of law enforcement. “It is their only purpose. The No. 1 problem statewide is overconsumption, and it’s always been the big fear, and it’s why the bar thing has never been allowed. Private clubs are the only version you would have of a bar, that’s as close as you’ll get. As far as having a neighborhood bar where people just come in for a drink, it wont happen. Because, again, think of today’s culture: You leave work, you come down to the bar and put down a couple or three mixed drinks before you go home. It creates the environment for DWIs.”
NC ABC COMMISSION ISSUES OVER $118,000 IN FINES FOR JUNE
The North Carolina Alcohol Beverage Control (NC ABC) Commission recently reported that they issued over $118,000.00 in fines and/or suspended alcohol licenses for at least 5 days. The fines/suspensions were a result of the ABC June 8th meeting.
These actions were a result of violation cited by North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) agents and other enforcement agencies throughout the state of North Carolina to include local Sheriff Deputies. According to North Carolina ABC, 99 businesses licensed to sell alcohol were fined and/or their licenses suspended.
According to the records obtained from the North Carolina Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, eleven of the establishments received fines/suspensions, in whole or in part, specifically for violations related to the North Carolina Private Membership regulations and totaled $21,950.00.
The least of the fines were $1000.00, which is more than double the annual subscription costs of the Bar Membership platform.
So now that this is happening, here’s what I’ve learned and some tips:
Instead of racking up tons of membership cards and carrying them around in your wallet or losing them somewhere in your car, you can keep a photo of your membership card on your phone. Pro tip: Save the photo in your favorites.
1. You don’t have to be 21. You can be 18 and up and still be a member if the establishment allows people under the drinking age.
2. Members can bring up to five guests with them. All guests have to sign in on the guest log.
3. If you’re inside a “private club” and an ABC officer asks to see your membership card, you need to be able to show it or qualify as someone’s guest. (This is rare, but could happen.)
4. Breweries are different and don’t classify as “private clubs.”
5. There are a crazy amount of alcohol laws made a long time ago that really don’t apply anymore because, well, it’s 2016 and time has turned the tide.
