For example, Rome’s Alcohol Control Commission sensibly voted 4-1 against somehow punishing Studio 4 Ten at 1515 North Broad St. for having too noisy a crowd leaving the premises recently after a “Teen Night.” This, of course, is due to the ACC controlling alcohol/entertainment licenses. But why was this even on the ACC calendar?
Noisy or not, even though apparently outside the club and the control of its owners, what does being allowed to sell beer have to do with teen-agers? They’re not allowed to buy beer. If they were sold beer that is one thing. If they were noisy as the result of the bubbly in cola going to their heads, what business was it of the ACC?
If there is rowdiness outside the establishment, it is the role of normal police powers and magistrates to respond to the concerns of neighbors. Same for anything unruly happening inside the club if only cola was being consumed.
Keeping law and order, peace and quiet are definitely within the legitimate concerns of local government. But unless laws such those against under-age sales are actually being broken, why is this the ACC’s job? Does it have judge-and-jury powers over all places of entertainment, including those in which only popcorn is sold?
Of course, that now said, Rome will doubtless rush to create a Cola Control Commission.
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