The City Café/The Office, 901 Carter St., appeared before the Chattanooga Beer Board Tuesday morning for a beer code violation that occurred June 1. Just before last call at 2:30 a.m. a customer bought the bartender at The Office two vodka shots to celebrate her birthday. Instead, she was suspended from her job for two weeks.
According to the Chattanooga beer code, no employee is allowed to drink alcohol at any time at the place where they work.
This bartender had previously worked at the Westin for four years, was a licensed server and knew the rules about serving alcohol, Lee Epstein, owner of the business told the board. He had no dispute with the charges.
The manager that night of both City Café, the restaurant side of the business, and The Office, the bar side of the business, went to the security guard on duty with concerns that the bartender was drinking and asked what he should do. Officer Jeffrey Buckner with the sheriff’s department told the board that the bartender consented to a breathalyzer test, but first left to rinse her mouth out, which he said has no effect on the test. He also testified that he smelled alcohol over the smell in the bar. She tested .15 in his presence, he said. A person is legally intoxicated if that measurement is .08.
Mr. Epstein said the bartender’s job was dependent upon the beer board’s recommendation. It is up to him to decide but it is legal for the bartender to return to work, Board Member Christopher Keene told the owner.
The manager is no longer employed by City Café, under circumstances unrelated to this incident, said Mr. Epstein. Although he did what he had been instructed to do by going to the security guard, he realized that the 22-year-old manager did not have enough experience to run the restaurant.
The motion to suspend the beer license for one day or pay a $100 fine was made. Board member Trevor Atchley said he agreed that a lighter penalty is appropriate for the City Café. It has been in business for 16 years without a prior violation and the manager reported the problem. The board voted five to one to pass the lenient punishment.
The Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., will hold a fundraiser on July 18 from 7-10 p.m., “Drink and Discover 2019.” The museum will be closed to children and open for adults 21 and up to enjoying the museum and “playing with special exhibits” in collaboration with community partners, said Denise Karnes, special events and development manager of the museum. Tickets are $15 before July 4 and $20 starting July 5. Beer and wine tickets are for sale in advance or at the door. Admissions will be capped at 450 and this event usually sells out, said Ms. Karnes. Beer and wine sales stop at 9:45 and no problems have occurred at any other of these events, she said, this group does not tend to get rowdy.
One carry-out beer license was approved by the beer board on Tuesday. Ria’s Market, 203 East Main St, Suite 173, is a new location for a chain of convenience stores. The businesses have point of sales registers to check IDs and have had no problems at any of the other stores. Mr. Atchley warned the owners that POS systems are not fail safe, saying clerks are able to enter false birth dates just to make a sale. All sales are also verified by checking IDs, responded owner Jay Chaudhari.