Downtown St. Charles Bar Smacked With Fines, Liquor Bans After Patron Exits With Booze

ST. CHARLES, IL - Local officials suspended a downtown bar's liquor license and late-night permit after employees reportedly allowed a patron to leave with alcohol.

Acting as liquor control commissioner, city of St. Charles Mayor Raymond Rogina enforced local liquor ordinances for Alibi Bar & Grill, 12 N. 3rd St., at a July 17 St. Charles Liquor Control Commission meeting. The commission assesses alcohol, tobacco and massage license issues.

Alibi was cited on May 28 for allowing a patron to exit its premises with an alcoholic beverage, according to a city news release. It was the third time the bar had been cited for the same violation, and the sixth time it was cited, in general, since 2012.

As a result, Rogina suspended Alibi's liquor and late-night permit from Friday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 6. During that time frame, the bar cannot sell or serve any alcoholic beverages. Additionally, its late-night permit will be suspended from Saturday, Aug. 5 through Friday, Dec. 1. The latter ban means the bar will not be allowed to serve or sell booze after midnight.

Bar owners have also been smacked with a $1,00o fine and $1,209.50 in court costs, officials said.

"The liquor commissioner may consider abating the late-night permit suspension if there is prompt and satisfactory implementation of corrective procedures, and if there are no citations (or) complaints against the licensee through Oct. 24, 2017," said a city news release.

The recent violations reportedly follow a series of warning letters that were sent to the licensee.