Sad, Hysterical, or Infuriating?
by Steve Mastro
How new rules will lead to losing of liquor license
Here's how the new crackdown on Philadelphia's problem stop-n-go's would work:
The crackdown - which is awaiting Gov. Rendell's signature to become law - targets small stores that sell take-out beer. It's a two-year pilot program that applies only to Philadelphia.
Stores that get caught breaking rules will get points, based on how serious the violation is. And the points can lead to the revocation of their liquor license.
Stores can get 5 points for:
� Selling alcohol to minors.
� Serving visibly intoxicated people.
� Selling alcohol outside of permitted hours.
� Permitting undesirable persons, or minors, to frequent premises.
� Allowing lewd or improper behavior on the premises (lap dancing, for instance).
� Refusing inspection.
Stores can get 2 points for:
� Knowingly selling a drug device, including "stems," "roses" or "straight shooters" - the glass tubes used as crack pipes.
� Failure to meet conditions of a liquor license, such as failing to sell the legally required amount of food, failing to offer seating for at least 30 and failing to provide access to public restrooms.
� Failure to clearly display liquor license.
� Failure to dispose properly of empty containers.
� Failure to keep proper records on premises.
If a store racks up 10 points, the owner has to go to a special class.
At 15 points, the owner could lose his or her liquor license.
At 20 points, the owner automatically will lose his or her license.
Due process built into the crackdown allows owners a chance to see a judge within 15 days of losing their license, and if they can prove they've been unfairly hassled - or that they're not causing problems in their neighborhood - they can get the license back.