The War on Fun Sparks an Insurgency
Nightclubs take up plight of fun seekers everywhere
By SAJID FAROOQ
Updated 5:15 PM PST, Thu, Jul 2, 2009
The opposition to the ever-expanding "War on Fun" in San Francisco officially has a public face.
A group of local musicians, artists, club owners and industry insiders are uniting to fight threats from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to shut down City clubs for rules many argue are not related to public safety or liquor at all.
The fight has become the central issue in a recent crackdown on all things fun in the City where everything from street food vendors and Lindy dancers have been shut down in for what many call inane technicalities.
The group Stop the War on Fun says it's sole objective is to protect live music and entertainment in the City. The ABC wants clubs, such as Slim's and the DNA Lounge, to operate in line with the business plans highlighted in their licenses instead of like regular nightclubs.
The clubs that make up the group are "licensed to operate as all-ages venues because they serve food" but alcohol has always been their major meal ticket, according to our friends at the San Francisco Chronicle. And the ABC wants that practice to stop.
“Something's wrong when the state ABC can shut down law-abiding nightclubs for not selling enough food, or changing their menus or even how people dance,” State Assemblyman and former San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano said in a statement.
The club owners complain the ABC is focusing on minor issues that are not violations of the terms of their licenses.
They cite examples such as punk haven Bottom of the Hill being cited for not serving enough Mexican food while the Glas Kat was fined for not being open for lunch and the Great American Music Hall was written up for not serving enough food.
First Published: Jul 2, 2009 4:58 PM PST
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