For those of you who
aren't quite sure what a real threat this issue is, we
recommend watching this Video. Produced by NBC Bay Area,
this video primer explains everything. It features
commentary from owners of some of the affected clubs as well
as Supervisor Mark Leno and SFLNC's own Terrance Alan.
New Site Aims to Stop
the ABC's War on Fun
posted 07/08/09
For those following the
ABC's
all out war on local all-ages clubs (taking Bottom of
the Hill, Slim's, Great American Music Hall, and Cafe du
Nord to task for such minor "infractions" as changing their
opening hours or not serving enough food)...
SF Clubs Resist ABC
Crackdown
posted 07/08/09
San Francisco nightclubs
continue to fight through the
recent crackdown by the California
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control on a number of
fronts. Club owners have had to hire lawyers, politicians
are pushing for explanations, and advocates have set up
a new website through which to rally
support.
Busting Bars
posted 07/08/09
San Francisco's legendary
nightlife venues are being threatened by a state agency that
over the last two years has adopted a more aggressive policy
of enforcing its arcane rules, in the process jeopardizing
both needed tax revenue and a vibrant, tolerant culture that
these bureaucrats don't seem to understand.
SF Music Venues
Against ABC
posted 07/08/09
As a seasoned music fan who has
had the misfortune to follow bands into too many shitty
night spots and bars to mention, I was overjoyed when I
first heard California state officials had gone on the
attack against a bunch of Bay Area venues. They were
probably fighting against over-aggressive bouncers and surly
bar staff, right?...
Outdated Rules
Threaten the Life of All-Ages Clubs
posted 07/08/09
The livelihood of San
Francisco's best-known all-ages venues is under siege based
on issues that have nothing to do with public safety, but
rather on archaic views of how a nightclub should operate.
The state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC,
has spent the last year citing Bottom of the Hill, Slim's,
Great American Music Hall, and Café du Nord for such minor
offenses as changing their opening hours or not making
enough income from food sales. These crackdowns come with
the threat of severe consequences, ranging from hefty
fines to temporary suspensions to lost liquor licenses — all
for alleged infractions that have little to do with hosting
safe
shows for underage kids.
Update
on ABC vs. All-Ages Clubs...
posted 07/08/09
Despite numerous newspaper
articles (including
our own
back in May about the legal battle toll) about
the unfair crackdown the
ABC
has undertaken against all-ages venues in San
Francisco, it seems little has changed on the enforcement
side. The clubs are still complaining of being cited for
unfair and unwarranted "infractions" like "changing" their
opening hours or not serving enough food. That's the bad
news.
All-Ages Clubs Could
Catch a Break from the ABC
posted 07/08/09
Over
the weekend, the
Chron reported that the Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) was
allegedly going after all-ages clubs like
Slim's, Bottom of the Hill, Cafe du Nord,
and Great American Music Hall for reasons the clubs are
calling unreasonable (i.e. totally unrelated to drunken
teenagers). In the article, club owners expressed serious
concern over outrageous laws forcing them,
