The line outside of Celtic Crossings during a past St. Patrick's Day party. (Photo: Celtic Crossings)
A few Chicago bar owners tell 312DD that the city's aiming to tame the rowdy St. Patrick's Day crowds by issuing some exorbitant fines for those infamous "all-you-can-drink" packages.
"It started with New Year's Eve and all the '$100 open bar' ads," says one tavern owner, who asked to remain anonymous. "No on-site enforcement; the city just mailed you court hearing dates and fines of $3,500. Then they decreased them to $3,000."
He adds that the city liquor commission "reinterpreted" the happy hour law to suit their needs. "If an advertisement does not state how many drinks are included, they assume it's unlimited and are ticketing them."
Another owner sends a warning out to all the establishments that plan to offer drink packages during St. Patrick Day season: "Anyone who advertised St. Pat's 'all you can drink,' 'bottomless,' etc. will be getting nailed (by the city) this week and next."
Whoa.
"Instead of finding ways to help small businesses in this economy—especially this time of the year—the city is squeezing everyone with more fines to generate revenue. All the business owners are fed up," he says. "I'm told by my attorney the aldermen are getting together to try and get the city to drop these charges."
We will wait to see what happens.
Hopefully, the city doesn't succeed in taking the fun out of St. Patty's day. Banning all-you-can-drink packages is just WRONG. Ultimately, I think it should only be up to bartenders to cut a person off if they are too inebriated.
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