Evening star., 1935-07-07
RUM STORE SITE
DENIED BY BOARD
UNDER NEW PLAN
Policy to Prevent thrush OF
Competition Seen Vital
to Dealers.
STEP SEEN PROTECTION
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0ffutt Hopes Each Licensee Will
Help Reduce D. c. Viola.
tions Total.

Deciding there were already suf-
ficient licensed places to serve the
section and that their business would
suffer if more competition were al
lowed, the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board yesterday rejected an applica-
ton for bottled liquor sale at the
southeast corner of Eleventh and E
streets.
The application was from Maurice
Levitan and concerned a transfer of
the license issued to John M. Davis
for 425 Tenth street. The board pre-
viously shut down on issuance of any
more than 400 class A licenses and
there are that many in effect, but
transfers are permitted.
The board took the case as vehicle
for pronouncing a policy for effecting
a better distribution of licensed liquor
places in passing on transfers Of other
changes in licenses, in the interest Of
the public and the business of the
liquor dealers.
Other Requirements Met.
The Levitan application met all re-
quirements except the question of the
appropriateness of the store in the
light of its surroundings.
If, after a number of licenses have
been granted in a given locality the
board indiscriminately issued more
licenses there or permitted them to be
transferred to such locality, inevitably
some one holding such license in the
neighborhood must suffer economic
disaster, as all could not possibly sur
vive,' the board stated.
The duty of our board, as We see
1t, is to keep the license privilege
much to be desired. In that event
we can rely upon the licensees adher-
ing more strictly to the alcoholic bev-
erage control law and regulations pro-
mulgated by the Commissioners.
The board has as its ideal the time
when every hcenSee shall be so en-
Unused with the idea OF upholding
the law and regulations that violations
will be reduced to @he minimum. This
cannot possibly be- accomplished by
the ipdiscriminate granting OF Ii
censes''
Open Policy Once Followed.
When the board first was created,
licenses were issued to all who met
requirements without regard to the
number in a section, because of the
desire to combat organized speak
easy and bootleg traffic, the board
said
we have found that this has re-
suited in a condition which we must
gradually remedy" the board said.
Rigid enforcement of the law
against serving of drinks to Gus
toners who are not seated at tables
also was sought yesterday by the
control board in a request to police
for a careful check of operations of
licensed places.
George w. Offutt, board chairman,
asked police officials to report viola
tions to the board. He reported queries
telephoned to his office indicated con-
siderable confusion on the part of
dealers and customers over the point.
Table Seats Only.
Under the law" he stated, drinks
of hard liquor may not be served or
consumed by persons either standing
at bars or counters or elsewhere in
a licensed place. Neither may hard
liquor be consumed by persons seated
at counters or bars. The law re-
quires that hard liquor drinks be
served and consumed by persons
seated at tables.
The board proposes to enforce
this provision of the law strictly. To
allow persons to drink liquor while
standing or seated at bars or counters
would be too much like the old-time
bar. Congress has forbidden that
and specified consumption only at
tables.
This has not been changed, nor
was it intended to be changed, by the
amendment to the law just enacted
and signed by the President, which
permits the mixing of drinks in the
view of customers. That did away
with the hidden bar.
Again, some license holders and
others appear confused about this
amendment. It does not require
abolition of the hidden bar, but per-
mits a retailer to mix and serve drinks
a the open."
Ofutt explained that only beer and
light wines may be served and con-
sumed by customers of places when
seated at counters or bars.