Beer Law Violation Hearing - Stout Burgers and Beers, 400 Centerview Drive
Background
In conjunction with a joint operation carried out by the Brentwood Police Department and the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, an underage informant purchased beer at Stout Burgers and Beers on February 27, 2018, at approximately 6:50 p.m. The employee who served the informant has been charged with a Class A misdemeanor. Separately, the Brentwood Beer Board is empowered to take action against the restaurant for violating Tennessee law and/or the Brentwood Municipal Code.
A summons (copy attached) was served on the manager of Stout Burgers and Beers on April 17, 2018, requiring an appearance before the Beer Board on June 14, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.. A suggested procedural format used in previous Beer Board proceedings is also attached. A questionnaire was returned by the permit holder indicating that the permit holder does not wish to contest the charges. It also includes documentation showing measures that were in place to prevent the sale of beer to minors and subsequent measures that have been taken to prevent future occurrences.
Since Stout Burgers and Beers is not contesting the charges, there is no need for an evidentiary hearing in this matter. To supplement the documentation provided to the City, representatives may also make statements to the Beer Board at the June 14 hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Beer Board will then discuss and vote upon the appropriate penalty, if any, to be imposed.
For the sale of beer to a minor at this location, the Beer Board may suspend the beer permit. (If a permit holder has committed at least two violations within a 12-month period, the Beer Board may permanently revoke the beer permit. That is not the case in this matter.) At the time a suspension or revocation is imposed, state law authorizes the Beer Board to offer the permit holder the alternative of paying a civil penalty in lieu of the suspension or revocation. For the offense of selling beer to a minor, the civil penalty may not exceed $2,500. If a civil penalty is offered as an alternative, a permit holder must pay the penalty within seven days; otherwise, the suspension or revocation will go into effect.
In 2002, the Beer Board adopted guidelines for penalties to be imposed when beer permit holders violate the beer laws. Those guidelines are also attached. The guidelines are intended to provide for consistency in the way beer law violations are handled, although the Beer Board has discretion to impose penalties other than those outlined in the guidelines.
Finally, when the sale of beer for on-premises consumption results in a suspension or revocation by a local beer board, state law requires that notification of the beer board's action be sent by certified mail to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). The ABC may then take further action against the permit holder.
Please contact the City Attorney if you have questions about this matter.