Re: [Mpls] Liquor License Enforcement Procedures

[LISCHEID ,RONALD]

Many in the hospitality industry take this subject seriously.  I want to share a policy that is used by TGI Friday's (including the one on Hennepin Avenue downtown which should qualify this as a Minneapolis issue)- I do not work for Friday's but have many friends that wait tables, bartend or manage for Fridays throughout the Metro area. Friday's policy is simple- "If you are under 50, you are going to be carded".  Friday's uses their own 'decoys'- most are over 21 and some are nearing AARP age.  The 'decoy' comes up to the bar or is seated at a table and orders a drink- if the server or bartender fails to ask for an ID, the 'decoy' reaches into their pocket and gives the negligent employee a 'green card'- GOTCHA!- employee is fired on the spot- no ifs, and or buts- doesn't finish the shift- goes Bye-Bye!  To make sure that everyone in the restaurant knows the importance of this as a company policy from the management down, if there are 3 'green cards' given out in a particular store within a year, the General Manager is also fired- once again no ifs, ands or buts- a potentially successful, good-paying career with a Fortune 500 company down the drain. Many establishments in the liquor industry today interpret the law to say "over 21 AND with a valid ID"- not one of the two conditions, but both. I have seen some guests at Fridays get upset with the policy but I also see a majority of repeat guests that readily volunteer their ID as they are ordering their drinks.  Doesn't make any difference how old you are or how many times you have come into a particular restaurant- if the person serving you doesn't recognize you (ie: has never waited on you, maybe new employee, doesn't recognize you with your new hairdo or after you shaved your beard off) be prepared to show an ID. Having worked in the hospitality industry in the past, I think this is a good policy.  It doesn't discriminate against anyone since everyone is being carded.  And I would be willing to bet when the MPD 'decoys' come into the Fridays at the City Center, they go home with an empty net. It's just part of doing business in the liquor industry today.  The industry is getting used to it and so should their clientele. Ron Lischeid Windom (One advantage to having a bad haircut and a beard is people seldom forget my face- but I still carry my DL with my AARP card- and am flattered when I am asked)   ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 8:02 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Liquor License Enforcement Procedures   I don't know if this topic has come up before.  I am looking for advice or information about Mpls. police liquor license enforcement. My friend owns a small ethnic restaurant in S. Mpls. Their revenue is predominately from food, but they offer service of beer, wine and liquor, and have a small bar that seats 8.  I have been there hundreds of times and never seen them serve a minor or someone visibly intoxicated.  The police have sent in “decoys” to test their carding procedures 4 times in the last 22 months, and they failed 3 times (and passed once) and are facing a suspension of their license.  These are good, hard- working, honest people.  I’d be willing to bet these were the only instances of under-age service during that period, it just does not often happen there.  Two times the servers asked for ID but calculated the age incorrectly; one time the manager (and owner’s sister) came upon someone at the bar at an odd hour, and served him a beer without checking I.D., all dumb mistakes. They were fined $1500 per offense (the restaurant paid and provided legal representation) and individuals were charged with gross misdemeanors serving alcohol to a minor.  The manager spent a week in court and had the charges dropped.  The city has said they intend to retry her case. The city attorney says their job is to “aggressively prosecute all crimes that occur in the city”; apparently not to work constructively with citizens and business owners to ensure compliance in a way that doesn’t threaten their livelihoods. The city council regulatory services committee is Biernat, Niziolek, Colvin-Roy, Zerby, Zimmermann and Johnson.  I really don’t know what their role is in defining enforcement procedures.  I called the police asking about enforcement procedures, and they just referred me to legal statutes.  The enforcement doesn’t seem fair.  I have heard they don’t send decoys to test the metrodome, for example, although I don’t know if this is true and don’t really know how to find out.  I have heard of similar stories from other small restaurants. It seems to me they could start by observing a restaurant's business procedures to see if they serve minors or visibly intoxicated patrons before they try to trick them into serving a minor.  Or even help them with staff training materials, a sign with a birthdate reminder, etc.  Does anyone have advice or experience? My friend's restaurant is facing serious, and in my opinion undeserved, hardship. Nikki Carlson Linden Hills _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls