Last week, representatives from six Brentwood restaurants attended a hearing to learn what penalties they would incur after being cited with selling alcohol to an underage patron.
The citations were issued after a sting operation that took place on Feb 27, 2018. The sting operation was conducted by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) with assistance by the Brentwood Police Department. An underage informant visited 19 restaurants within the Brentwood City Limits and ordered alcohol.
The six restaurants are:
- Jefferson’s Restaurant, 214 Ward Circle
- Hanabi Japanese Restaurant, 214 Ward Circle
- Brick’s Cafe & Bistro, 330 Franklin Road
- Stout Burgers and Beers, 400 Centerview Drive
- Local Taco, 146 Pewitt Drive
- 55 South, 7031 Executive Center Drive
The Brentwood Beer Board decided that Jefferson’s, Hanabi, Brick’s, Local Taco and 55 South have the choice to either suspend their liquor license for seven days with signs posted or pay a $2,000 fine. Stout Burgers and Beer also has the option to choose a suspension or a fine, but their fine is $2,500. If a restaurant chooses the suspension, it would begin July 9th.
This was the first time any of these restaurants were caught selling beer to a person under 21 years of age. Representatives from the restaurants apologized to the board for the infraction and all restaurants have taken steps to prevent the sell of alcohol to underage patrons.
“I’m taken aback that this happened in so many places in Brentwood…it disturbs me tremendously,” said Commissioner Anne Dunn.
Or we could lower the drinking age to a more reasonable age like 18 and treat young people like grown-ups. It’s like living in the Victorian Age!