COLUMBUS – Agents from the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) recently cited two establishments after receiving complaints of blatant violations of orders in place to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Agents visited the following liquor-permitted establishments and issued citations after witnessing the violations:
Scale Entertainment LLC, known as Vivid Cocktail Lounge, Maple Heights, received an administrative citation for improper conduct – disorderly activity. Agents visited the establishment with the assistance of the Maple Heights Police Department after receiving multiple complaints from citizens and the local health department. Agents and officers entered the establishment and found approximately 60 to 70 patrons tightly packed into one area. Patrons were shoulder-to-shoulder and movement through the crowd was difficult without having direct contact. Patrons were congregating with no social distancing measures or physical barriers in place.
JIMSUEENTERTAINMENT LLC, known as Tavern Off Broadway, Bedford, received an administrative citation for limitation on hours for sales and on-premises consumption. Agents visited the establishment with the assistance of the Bedford Police Department. Agents and officers arrived at the establishment shortly after 11:30 p.m. observing approximately 10 patrons inside and evidence of recent sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Upon entry to the establishment, agents witnessed attempts to conceal the activity.
“We continue to see that most of the permit premises are following the precautions put in place to make their establishments safe and they are complying with the directives,” said OIU Enforcement Commander Eric Wolf. “As agents continue to conduct compliance checks they take enforcement action when egregious violations like these are observed.”
The Ohio Investigative Unit is made up of fully-sworn, plainclothes peace officers responsible for enforcing Ohio’s alcohol, tobacco, and food stamp fraud laws. Agents conduct compliance checks to ensure the liquor permit premises are compliant with the Ohio Liquor Control Act. Agents also act on complaints of illegal activity on liquor permit premises. In addition to providing the safety checks associated with the COVID-19 directives, OIU agents continue to perform their normal compliance checks to ensure the liquor permit premises are complying with the Ohio Liquor Control Act.
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