The Corner district has observed increasing Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control activity in recent weeks in response to the efforts of a new ABC officer to fully enforce regulations and have a greater presence in the area.
Recently, restaurant owners have met the new officer and worked to improve compliance, including the elimination of post-dinner-hour drink specials and the use of more stringent criteria when checking IDs. Area bouncers report the plain-clothed officer also has questioned patrons inside of restaurants regarding their IDs as well as standing outside with the bouncers.
An ABC representative was unavailable for comment over the weekend. A representative from the Charlottesville City Police Department said there is currently no collaborative enforcement initiative between the two departments.
"We've met the new ABC agent and his argument is that it's not so much that he's doing more but that less was done in previous years," said Andy McClure, the owner of The Virginian, which did not receive any violations. "I think that the only change I can see is that there is more presence."
Owners generally expressed a commitment and desire to work with the ABC officers.
"As in every business that's regulated, we want to have a low profile with these agencies," said Jaberwoke owner Jim Galloway. "We don't want to market to people under 21."
ABC officers have always had the authority to inspect any establishment under their purview, including the ability to question patrons.
"We were given a verbal warning," said a bouncer who requested anonymity. "They said that they would be dropping in from time to time. It's his right, and he has the authority to do so under his job description."
Still, some question the means of enforcement. The bouncer cited an incident last weekend in which ABC officers sent a 20-year-old female to seek entry to the bar on their behalf.
"I think it's kind of shady that they have people who basically try to trick us," the bouncer said, adding that he turned away the underage woman.
Several restaurants reported they have reminded workers to request two forms of identification for anybody who appears to be under the age of 30. A bouncer at another establishment said he appreciated the assistance provided by the ABC.
"I like it, it makes our job easier," the bouncer, who asked to remain anonymous, said. "Kids using fake IDs are obviously an issue. If we're going to have an honor system, obviously trying to pass a fake ID is against the honor code."
Others argued that overly aggressive enforcement is unfair to patrons.
"If they're already in the bar, that's the bouncer's responsibility," second-year College student Robbie Law said. "The bouncer is the one in charge of letting people in, and if they let people in, that's on them."
The biggest immediate impact of the increased vigilance has been the elimination of specials and promotions at several Corner district restaurants. Jaberwoke, for example, cancelled the "Walrus" drink, served in a giant clamshell with the equivalent of two to three pitchers of drinks and shared, because the new regulator felt it violated the spirit of ABC policy.
The drink "was too large and we said that it wasn't a problem" to eliminate it, Galloway said. "We've had no direct involvement, everything went well."
Student groups that had rented bars for private events or fundraisers found the new enforcement chafing. The Sigma Pi fraternity had arranged a charitable fundraiser at the Biltmore in which students bought cups and received reduced drink prices, while the proceeds were donated to cancer research.
"This was our major philanthropy event of the year, we spent a lot on the cost for the advertisements, we set it up and he walks in and says you're not allowed to have specials after dinner hour," said Law, a member of Sigma Pi. "We were basically left to plead with people to donate the money, and in the end we made a third of what we were hoping because of that."
Some questioned the need for increased enforcement in the Corner district and also said they felt there was a disparity in enforcement between different establishments.
"There really just wasn't this level of authority before," a third bouncer said. "I don't know if it's because certain instances occurred and it's necessary now, [but to me] there's nothing that's really happened that makes this necessary."
Others speculated the Corner district draws increased attention because of its vibrancy and high student population.
"Every place on the Corner is going to have a great late night because of the University, and every restaurant does a good job at keeping things safe, legal and fun," McClure said.
The penalties for violating the alcohol regulations are stiff. Students using fake IDs or drinking underage face fines of up to $500, the loss of their drivers licenses, 50 hours of community service and even up to one year in prison, according to the ABC Web site.
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