Despite the Ohio Investigative Unit’s focus on cracking down on underage drinkers in Athens, the undercover agents often turn their attention to the bars themselves.
The Ohio Investigative Unit handed out seven citations to local establishments during the past calendar year, including ones to Uptown bars such as Courtside Pizza, 85 N. Court St., and Red Brick Tavern, 14 N. Court St.
The unit also cited Maplewood Inn & Drive-Thru for three separate offenses in that time frame. The bar, formerly located at 700 E. State St., closed soon after the citations.
Citations lead to a civil trial between a given establishment and the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, said Eric Wolf, an administrative agent with the Ohio Investigative Unit. The Attorney General’s office presents the unit’s report, and the permit holder has the opportunity to present its side of the story before the commission makes its final decision.
If found guilty, the commission has an array of options ranging from fines to suspension and even the revoking of an establishment’s liquor permit. In addition, the commission can decide to assess no penalty or find the establishment not guilty.
“It’s dependent on the violation that occurred and the history the liquor permit (holder) has,” Wolf said. “As far as monetary forfeitures, that is by far the most common finding by the commission.”
Wolf also said that the unit isn’t required to check out specific bars on a predetermined basis.
“A lot of the work we do is based off of complaints we receive from either the public or other law enforcement agencies,” Wolf said.
The majority of complaints the unit receives involve sales to underage drinkers and those who are overly intoxicated. When examining a bar, the agents are “undercover” — wearing plain clothes and driving regular cars.
“We just blend into whatever environment we’re going into with our attire, dress and behavior,” Wolf said. “We will try and do the best we can to fit into whatever crowd is in that establishment, concert or festival or whatever we happen to be working that night.”
Undercover agents visited Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery, 24 W. Union St., earlier this month, said Luar Romero, Jackie O’s general manager.
“(They) came in and showed their badge, which is not the norm for them,” Romero said. “We never know when they’re going to show up.”
He added that employees can usually tell when the agents are in the building.
“Sometimes you can tell because they’re not drinking, just watching,” Romero said. “They’re not dressing up. They try to mix with the crowd and you know right away they’re not from here. It’s not a college student, and if they’re middle-aged you know this isn’t their bar.”
Wolf said bar owners and employees are generally cooperative with their agents when they decide to make a visit.
“They understand our role and the entire process,” Wolf said.
Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said his department does not conduct bar raids or searches. However, he said it is not uncommon for his officers to stop randomly in a bar for visibility purposes.
“Especially if we might have had some calls in and around that area of the bar,” Pyle said. “We have no concentrated or selective enforcement efforts going on.”
@akarl_smith
as299810@ohiou.edu
Fast Facts
Citations handed out to Liquor Permitted Establishments in Athens County between Feb. 12, 2013 and Feb. 12, 2014
Athens
Underage Sales
Courtside Pizza: Oct. 25, 2013
Union Street Market: Oct. 25, 2013
Maplewood: Oct. 25. 2013; Nov. 1, 2013.
Red Brick Tavern: Oct. 25, 2013
After Hours Sales
Maplewood: March 10, 2013
Sunday Sales
Elks Lodge: Sept. 22, 2013
Nelsonville
Underage Sales
Mine Tavern: March 1, 2013
Sunday Sales
Los Mariachis: Nov. 24, 2013
This article appeared in print under the headline "Unit cracks down on bars."
NOTE: A previous version of this web article and an article that appeared on the front page of the Feb. 17 issue of The Post misstated that the Cat’s Eye Saloon, 12 N. Court Street, was cited for underage alcohol sales by the state in 2013. In fact, it was the Red Brick Tavern, 14 N. Court St., that was cited in 2013. The Post regrets the error.
