Evening star., 1949-04-21
Of Bar
Hours Urged 10
End Bottle Clubs
Tovern Spokesman
Asks 4 AM. Closing
On Weekdays

i tlC Itrol1ui dLt oCtEldkc AAcU-
ciation of Washington today urged
the Commissioners to put after
hours" bottle clubs out of business
by extending weekday tavern and
night club closing hours to Am.
and on week ends to 2 am
The association. representing 4l0
bars and night clubs here. also
asked the city heads to:
/. Amend the law governing the
serving OF drinks to minors to
require suspected minors to sign .
card stating they are aware Of the
legal consequences of falsifying
age.
2. Permit serving of hard liquor
at bars. In addition to beer and
light wines.
3. Limit the number OF class c
and D liquor licenses.
Philip A. Guarino. president Of
the association. asked the Com
missioners to instruct Corporation
Counsel Vernon e. West to draw
UP legislation based on their pro-
posal.
Two Bills Seek Extension.
Recently. the association asked
the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board to approve legislation that
would extend closing hours for
taverns and night clubs. The ABC
board indicated disapproval but
referred the request to the Com
missioners with a recommendation
that public hearings be held.
Commissioner Guy Mason said a
public hearing probably will be
called If Congress asks the Com
missioners for a report on two bills
pending before the House and
Senate that would extend tavern
closing hours.
Today Mr. Guarino. with the
members Of the ABC board sitting
by as observers. asked the Com
missioners to approve a staggered
system of licensing. He proposed
that the existing rate of $3.50
year be continued in force for
restaurants closing at 2 am. on
weekdays and that fees for those
wishing extended hours be scaled
as follows:
Sees Immediate Closings.
For establishments allowed to
remain open until am. on week
days. $1,100: for establishments
allowed to sell alcoholic beverages
until 4 am. on weekdays. 81, 900.
Strongest effect of this proposal,
Mr.. Guarino declared, would be
immediate closing Of after hour
clubs. with which. he said, the po-
lice. the ABC Board and the Com :
missioners admittedly have been
unable to cope. Extended closing
hours for legally operated estab1 i
lishments undoubtedly would pro-
vide competition which would
force abandonment Of after-honrs
clubs, he declared. ss 4
Mr.. Guarino charged that the
bottle clubs are openly selling
whisky and beer to members and
nonmembers alike with impunity
and without being subject to reg
ulation by the police, the ABC
Board or the Health Department.
Would Require Proof of Age.
Bottle clubs operate on a men,
bership basis with an annual fee
for joining. Members bring their
own whisky to the clubs and pay
Is or IS cents for the setup.
AS private clubs. they are free
from ABC regulation, but are
open to prosecution if they sell
liquor to nonmembers.
On his second point. Mr.,
Guarino proposed enactment Of
a law which would require a
suspected minor to show a driv-
er's permit. draft card or other
usual proof of age and sign a
card stating his knowledge Of
legal penalties for Justification Of
age. The proposed regulation
would allow the ABC Board to
decide whether the proprietor is
guilty. Present law states that
If minor is served, the proprietor
automatically is guilty. +.
The tavern owners spokesman
said he did not ask that stand
up drinking at bars be permitted.
but only that serving Of drinks
stronger than beer and light wine
be permitted at bars. AT present.
only beer and light wine can be