Court Opinion

ID: 9825173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 12:14:26.61438+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:40:20.065836
License: Public Domain

ON THE MERITS
The “Oregon Liquor Control Act” was enacted in 1933, § 24-101, et seq., O. C. L. A., for the purpose, among other things, of controlling the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. The regulation and control of the liquor traffic always has been, and, perhaps, always will be, a vexatious and difficult problem. The legislature in the exercise of its police power saw fit to create the “Oregon Liquor Control Commission” and has delegated to it power to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purpose and *500spirit of the Act. The constitutionality of the Act was sustained in Klamath Falls v. Oregon Liquor Control Comm., 146 Or. 83, 29 P. (2d) 564.
The rules and regulations adopted by the Commission, pursuant to subdivision (h) of § 24-106, O. C. L. A., which are “necessary and feasible for carrying out the provisions of this act”, have the “full force and effect of law”. Regulation M of the Commission making the licensee responsible for the “act or omission of any servant, agent, employee or representative” is undoubtedly reasonable and tends toward a more efficient administration of the Act. It was unlawful for the “barkeeper” to sell whiskey. It is wholly immaterial whether the licensee knew about such sale or whether it was contrary to her instructions. State v. Schull, 66 S. D. 102, 279 N. W. 241, 115 A. L. R. 1226, 30 Am. Jur., Intoxicating Liquors, § 146, note Ann. Cas. 1912 A 1109.
When the licensee accepted the license, she impliedly agreed to obey the provisions of the Liquor Control Act and all reasonable regulations of the Commission made pursuant thereto. Manchester Press Club v. State Liquor Commission, 89 N. H. 442, 200 A. 407, 116 A.L.R. 1093. It was incumbent upon the licensee to conduct this night club in a lawful manner, whether it was operated bji her personally or through her agents or employees. If.the rule were otherwise, the Commission would have slight control over the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor.
A license to serve alcoholic liquor is not a contract creating property rights. There are no vested rights involved. The license merely grants to the licensee a temporary privilege to do that which'would otherwise be unlawful. McCanless v. Klein, supra.
*501 Wide discretion is vested in the Commission to determine whether a license should be revoked or suspended. Courts should not interfere with the exercise of discretion by such administrative agencies, unless it plainly appears that there has been an abuse thereof. The Commission in the instant case did not act arbitrarily or capriciously in suspending a license for an admitted violation of the law.
The decree is reversed and the order of suspension is sustained. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is entitled to costs and disbursements.
Kelly, J., did not participate in this decision.