Bar owners, law enforcement working to improve nightlife

Over serving and an increase in bar fights at local bar establishments are something both law enforcement and bar owners are working to address.

Downtown Sedro-Woolley nightlife has become popular as local and out-of-town patrons are drawn to the convenient location of the city’s seven bars and live music entertainment, local bar owners said.

Within the past six months, local law enforcement has noticed more activity Friday and Saturday nights and have increased its foot patrol near the bars those nights, said Sedro-Woolley Police Chief Doug Wood.

“We’ve been trying to work with bar owners to get a handle on it,” he said. “We’ve had some success, but it’s taken a lot of man power.”

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) has listed the Sedro-Woolley bars as “Locations of Strategic Interest.”

Bar establishments are placed in the program when state liquor board officials receive information from sources that suggest the businesses may pose a threat to public safety, said Thomas Dixon, WSLCB enforcement captain.

State liquor board officials were informed that some significant problems have ocurred late at night in downtown Sedro-Woolley, he said. Some sources included local DUI data records, media sources and complaints from the general public, city officials and local bar owners or employees.

Because the bars are listed, they become the focus of intense enforcement and educational efforts from the state liquor board.

Earlier this month, board enforcement officers conducted an undercover sting operation at all Sedro-Woolley bars — except Schooner Tavern since is was closed at the time. Two citations were issued during the operation.

A $1,500 citation was given to the Sedro-Woolley Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 2069 for serving alcohol to a non-member.

Another $2,500 citation was issued to Boondocks Bar & Grill for over serving a patron. It was the bar’s second citation for over serving, a written statement from the WSLCB said. There were no other violations made that night.

Both establishments have the opportunity to suspend its liquor license for five days in lieu of paying the fine.



Working together



Boondocks Bar & Grill owner Wesley Drake said his employees and he are trying to create a safe environment for patrons as the establishment has between four to six bouncers at a time.

A lot of money goes into an establishment to make it a safe place, Drake said, as he has to pay more for increased security.

Trouble can arise when a large number of people are in a given area, he said, adding that he is trying to work with local law enforcement in maintaining safety downtown.

“We feel like we have a great reputation with the cops,” Drake said. “We keep them informed, invite them to come in and do rounds. They are working with us and I do appreciate that.”

He said he thinks patrons don’t want to go to unsafe establishments and questioned why so many people would come to Sedro-Woolley bars each weekend if they didn’t feel safe.

Over serving patrons is something that’s not tolerated at Just Moe’s Steak and Spirits, said Michele “Moe” Anderson-Keenan, who owns the establishment. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep tabs on a person who just arrived from another bar, she said.

Both Drake and Anderson-Keenan said they hope downtown bar owners can work together to eliminate over serving patrons and create a safe, responsible environment downtown.

Some patrons don’t understand how important it is to not over serve, Anderson-Keenan said.

“I’m probably the bad guy sometimes when I offer people coffee, water or juice,” she said.

Drake said it’s his first year as a bar owner and that the responsibility is stressful.

“It’s great to see people have a great time in your establishment,” he said. “But there are also other needs from the city, chamber of commerce, other bars, customers and the liquor control board. It’s a stressful balancing act.”

The state liquor control board has been working with the bars to help educate and eliminate liquor law violations, Dixson said. The board held a training for bar employees in Sedro-Woolley earlier in the year.

“Our ultimate goal is to solve the problem,” he said.

Drake said his employees will participate in another voluntary training with the liquor board to help mitigate any more citations and to demonstrate the bar’s interest in abiding by liquor laws.

Wood said police officers are trying to help bar owners police themselves since that’s the method that works best, adding that he thinks officers are doing a good job of getting the word out to the owners about recent problems.

Bar owners have a tough job, Wood said, there’s a lot of responsibility and liability that goes along with serving alcohol.

“We want to see them be successful,” he said. “But we also have a responsibility to the city and have to make sure (bar patrons) don’t tear the town up and use all of our resources to keep the peace.”