Aristocratic Restaurant of Massachusetts, Inc. v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission

374 N.E.2d 1184, 374 Mass. 547, 1978 Mass. LEXIS 873

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: March 3, 1978
• Docket: 1
• Status: Published

Opinions

Wilkins, J.

Each plaintiff sought judicial review under G. L. c. 30A, § 14, of a decision of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (commission) suspending its license to sell alcoholic beverages. In each case, summary judgment was entered in the Superior Court dismissing the complaint. The appeals, which raise identical issues, were consolidated, and we transferred them to this court on our own motion. We affirm the judgments.

Aristocratic Restaurant of Massachusetts, Inc. (Aristocratic), was the holder of a 1975 all alcoholic beverages restaurant license for premises at 240 Boylston and 19 Providence streets in Boston. One night in October, 1975, two investigators of the commission entered those premises and were seated at the bar. The investigators observed that “after leaving the stage and getting dressed, the dancers mingled with the patrons and had patrons purchase drinks for them.” Each of two or three dancers employed by Aristocratic asked one or the other of the investigators to buy her a drink. The investigators subsequently identified themselves to the person in charge of the premises.

About three weeks later, the commission sent Aristocratic notice of a hearing to determine whether Aristocratic “violated certain provisions of the Liquor Control Act.” The notice referred to Regulation Thirteenth of the Boston Licensing Board (Regulation 13) and the commission’s Regulation 21. Regulation 13 provides that “[e]ntertainment, if any, must be confined to a particular place, and the entertainers must not be allowed to mingle with or circulate among the patrons.” The commission’s Regulation 21 provides that “[n]o licensee for the sale of alcoholic beverages shall permit any . . . illegality of any kind to take place in or on the licensed premises.”²

The notice of the hearing did not recite the date of the alleged violation, and the commission did not file any further specifications, although Aristocratic moved for a more definite statement. The commission had a practice of allowing a licensee’s representative to read its entire file, and Aristocratic had that opportunity in this proceeding. The commission conducted a hearing on December 16,1975; rendered a decision that day finding a violation of Regulation 13 and of its Regulation 21; and ordered a suspension of Aristocratic’s license for a period of ten days. The commission filed a statement of reasons containing findings of fact.

The circumstances concerning United Food Corporation (United) are much the same as those concerning Aristocratic. On January 4, 1976, investigators of the commission entered United’s licensed premises on Washington Street in Boston operated under the name “Two O’Clock Lounge.” A female dancer left the stage, dressed, approached the investigators, and asked them if they would like company. They asked what they would have to do for her company, and she replied, “You’ll have to buy me a drink for starters.” When the investigators declined the offer, she left them and approached other male patrons on the other side of the bar. The investigators identified themselves and informed the person in charge of the premises that a report of the violation of Regulation 13 would be filed with the commission.

On March 23, 1976, the commission sent a notice of a hearing to United, asserting that on January 4,1976, United violated Regulation 13 and Regulation 21. The commission furnished no further details and, as in the case of Aristocratic, the commission declined, on motion, to make a more definite statement of its charges. But it did advise United that the licensee’s complete file was open for inspection. On April 27, 1976, the commission held a hearing and, on that same day, issued a decision suspending United’s license for six days for violation of Regulation 13 and Regulation 21. The commission filed a statement of reasons containing specific findings, which have been summarized in part above.

In each case, a Superior Court judge stayed the commission’s order of suspension, and, after the commission’s motions for summary judgment were granted, the judge allowed each appellant’s motion to stay judgment pending appeal.

As we have indicated, the appellants raise identical issues in their appeals. They claim that Regulation 13 and Regulation 21 are “vague, overbroad, and in violation of constitutional rights of speech and association.” Their main contentions are that a prohibition of entertainers’ mingling with and circulating among patrons is too imprecise to meet constitutional requirements of due process and that, in any event, such a regulation is overbroad because it denies entertainers constitutionally protected rights to speak to and associate with customers. Before reaching these constitutional questions, we shall address procedural objections raised by the appellants.

1. The unsupplemented notices of the hearings were inadequate to provide the licensees with “sufficient notice of the issues involved to afford them reasonable opportunity to prepare and present evidence and argument” (G. L. c. 30A, § 11 [1], inserted by St. 1954, c. 681, § 1), and, therefore, the commission’s decisions were “[mjade upon unlawful procedure” (G. L. c. 30A, § 14 [7] [d], as amended through St. 1973, c. 1114, § 3). However, only where “the substantial rights of any party may have been prejudiced” is a reversal of agency action appropriate. G. L. c. 30A, § 14 (7). Neither appellant has made such a showing here. The files of the commission, including reports of the violations claimed by its investigators, were available to each licensee. Indeed, the record of each proceeding indicates that counsel was adequately prepared to meet the evidence presented before the commission and that in neither case did he ask for a continuance.³

2. There is no merit to the appellants’ argument that the commission exceeded its jurisdiction by enforcing a regulation of a local licensing authority. They claim that the commission lacks the power to make an initial interpretation of such a regulation on its own. The appellants concede, however, that the commission has comprehensive powers of suspension over licensees and has statutory authority (G. L. c. 138, § 64) to revoke or suspend a license for violation of a regulation of a local licensing authority. Nothing in the legislative pattern of regulation suggests that the commission may enforce only those local regulations which have been interpreted by a local licensing authority.

3. There was substantial evidence to support the commission’s findings of fact. In each case, the evidence showed, and the commission found, that at least one entertainer approached customers on the licensed premises and attempted to have them purchase her drinks. This evidence supported findings that entertainers mingled with or circulated among the patrons. The evidence warranted an inference that the management of the licensed premises “allowed” entertainers to associate with patrons in this manner. Thus, the finding of a violation of Regulation 13, and in turn of Regulation 21, was amply supported by substantial evidence. We consider next the appellants’ claim that the suspensions of their licenses cannot stand because Regulation 13 and Regulation 21 are unconstitutional.

4. Regulation 13 and Regulation 21 are not unconstitutionally vague as applied to the appellants in the circumstances revealed by the commission’s findings. The appellants, therefore, have no standing to challenge these regulations on due process grounds by showing that the regulations may be facially vague, that is, impermissibly vague in other factual circumstances. See Commonwealth v. Gallant, 373 Mass. 577, 581 (1977), and cases cited; Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 607 (1973).⁴ The question is whether the licensees had sufficient warning, and the enforcement authorities had sufficient guidance, from Regulation 13 to determine whether the conduct of the licensees’ entertainers was forbidden. See Commonwealth v. Bohmer, ante 368, 371-372(1978); Commonwealth v. 707 Main Corp., 371 Mass. 374, 383-384 (1976). We believe that where an entertainer indiscriminately approaches patrons soliciting them to purchase drinks for him or her, the entertainer has “mingle[d] with or circulate[d] among the patrons.” These words are not vague in the context of the facts apparent on the record. Even if Regulation 13 were to be considered a criminal statute, and thus held to a higher standard of certainty than a civil sanction (Winters v. New York, 333 U.S. 507, 515 [1948]), it furnishes a sufficiently definite warning so that people of common intelligence would know that the activities of the appellants’ entertainers constituted mingling with and circulating among patrons. See Commonwealth v. Gallant, supra at 580-581; Commonwealth v. 707 Main Corp., supra at 383-384. See also Miami v. Kayfetz, 92 So. 2d 798, 802 (Fla. 1957); New Orleans v. Kiefer, 246 La. 305, 312 (1964) (holding that the verb “mingle” has a clear connotation to the ordinary mind); People v. King, 115 Cal. App. 2d Supp. 875, 879 (1952) (same).

5. The appellants argue that Regulation 13 infringes on constitutional rights of free speech and association.⁵

The claim that Regulation 13 violates any right of freedom of speech or assembly under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States must fail. The Supreme Court has recognized the right of the States, under the Twenty-first Amendment, to exercise controls on the exercise of First Amendment rights in establishments dispensing liquor in situations where such restraints would be unacceptable elsewhere. Doran v. Salem Inn, Inc., 422 U.S. 922, 932-933 (1975). See Commonwealth v. Sees, ante 532, 536 (1978); California v. LaRue, 409 U.S. 109, 114-116 (1972). If the nude dancing considered in the LaRue case could be regulated by the State as part of its control over licensed liquor establishments, we think that Regulation 13’s controls over the conduct of entertainers who are not performing do not run afoul of the First Amendment. The appellants’ constitutional arguments must rest exclusively on the Constitution of the Commonwealth.

Although the appellants make no specific reference to art. 16 of the Declaration of Rights of the Constitution of the Commonwealth, as amended by art. 77 of the Amendments, which guarantees freedom of speech, we must consider art. 16. The protection of freedom of speech afforded by art. 16 certainly extends to the communication of ideas. Because our State Constitution has no special provision like the Twenty-first Amendment concerning the regulation of alcoholic beverages, the right of free speech guaranteed by art. 16 has no parallel limited status in premises where alcoholic beverages are served. In Commonwealth v. Sees, supra at 536, decided today, we hold that an attempted regulation of nearly nude dancing in a licensed liquor establishment violated art. 16 because the performance was protected expression. However, we find no expressive conduct in the activities engaged in by the entertainers in this case. The entertainers were not acting as entertainers or otherwise engaged in expressive conduct.

A restriction of entertainers’ soliciting drinks from customers in liquor establishments serves a significant governmental interest. The random solicitation of drinks often implies the availability of some service, at least the entertainer’s company, in return. The entertainer is normally acting with the knowledge and approval of his or her employer. Indeed, in many instances such activity may be a requirement of the job. Although some patrons may be “willing victims” of such activity, others may not be. It would be naive not to recognize that the solicitation of drinks is often a prelude to the solicitation of a customer to engage in sexual activity.⁶ Where the speech claimed to be protected is carried on solely for profit, where the information transmitted is inconsequential, and where the government’s interest in regulating the activity with which such speech is associated is significant, we believe the prohibition by Regulation 13 of the solicitation of drinks to be appropriate in time, place, and manner. Opinion of the Justices, 373 Mass. 888, 891 (1977). Virginia State Bd. of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Inc., 425 U.S. 748, 770-771 (1976). See Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50, 68-69 (1976). Thus, we conclude that art. 16 does not assure a constitutional right, in the name of free speech, to hustle drinks. Certainly, art. 16 does not grant licensees a right to have their entertainers solicit drinks from customers. Therefore, as applied to the facts of these cases, Regulation 13 infringed no art. 16 rights of the appellants or their entertainers.

Although the facts of these cases present no circumstances of speech or expressive conduct protected by art. 16, the appellants assert that Regulation 13 is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad and argue that, in a free speech context, they may rely on hypothetical circumstances to challenge the propriety of the regulation. In particular circumstances, a person may have standing to advance over-breadth arguments, based on hypothetical facts, where First Amendment rights are involved. See First Nat’l Bank v. Attorney Gen., 371 Mass. 773, 787-788 (1977), and Commonwealth v. Dennis, 368 Mass. 92, 95 (1975), each citing Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 611-615 (1973). The appellants have no standing, however, in the context of a vagueness challenge to argue that Regulation 13 is unconstitutional as applied to others. Commonwealth v. Bohmer, supra at 371 n.6. Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50, 58-59 (1976). Broadrick v. Oklahoma, supra at 608.

This court has never discussed the permissible scope or the availability of overbreadth arguments advanced exclusively under art. 16.⁷ We believe that a person may assert the rights of others under art. 16 to challenge the constitutionality of government action in a manner similar to that in which overbreadth arguments have been advanced under the First Amendment. But, to have standing to assert a facial overbreadth argument, a party must demonstrate both that the challenged governmental regulation is not susceptible of a construction which limits its application to unprotected activity and that the deterrent effect of any government regulation is both “real and substantial.” Commonwealth v. Bohmer, supra at 374. Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., supra at 60. Erznoznik v. Jacksonville, 422 U.S. 205, 216 (1975).

The appellants lack standing to invoke the overbreadth doctrine here. They have not shown that the operation of Regulation 13 imposes a real and substantial deterrent to the exercise of rights protected by art. 16. They offered no evidence to support such a claim, and their briefs do not suggest any hypothetical set of facts which would support a claim of the facial invalidity of that regulation. We decline to pass on the appellants’ general assertion of overbreadth, unsupported by specific argument. If and when such argument is made, the government will have the opportunity to contest the overbreadth claim. In doing so, the government may argue that, in the circumstances, Regulation 13 should be construed to be inapplicable to the hypothetical situations posited or that, if Regulation 13 does restrict any art. 16 rights, those restrictions are limited reasonably in time, place, and manner to serve the State’s significant interest in the regulation of conduct. See Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50, 63 n.18 (1976). See also Tahiti Bar, Inc. Liquor License Case, 395 Pa. 355, 372, appeal dismissed sub nom. Tahiti Bar, Inc. v. Pennyslvania Liquor Control Bd., 361 U.S. 85 (1959). In addition, speech involved in the circumstances to which Regulation 13 applies often may be solely commercial in purpose, engaged in as part of an entertainer’s employment. In such cases, “the notion of ‘overbreadth’ appears inapposite, so that each litigation will be decided by reference to the particular impact of the given legislation or administrative regulation on the parties, not on a consideration of the range of the restraints that could be threatened under it.” Opinion of the Justices, 373 Mass. 888, 892 (1977). See Bates v. State Bar of Ariz., 433 U.S. 350, 380-381 (1977).

Although the appellants claim that their entertainers have a constitutional right to associate with patrons of their establishments, they offer no reasoning or authority in support of that asserted right nor in support of their standing to advance it. In addition, the appellants assert no constitutional right of their own or of their customers to have their entertainers mingle with customers. Article 19 of the Declaration of Rights of the Constitution of the Commonwealth gives the people the right “in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble . . . .” But art. 19 does not extend to the appellants any greater standing in the circumstances than does art. 16.

Judgments affirmed.

2 For the purposes of these appeals, the only “illegality” claimed by the commission was the violation of Regulation 13.

3 If the commission has not already modified its practice to conform to the requirements of the State Administrative Procedure Act (G. L. c. 30A), it should do so.

4 Regulation 21 is involved here, as we have noted, only to the extent that the “illegality” is a violation of Regulation 13. In our opinion in a case with the same name, post 564 (1978), released today, we hold that “illegality” is not impermissibly vague, if construed to apply only to violations of statutes and regulations.

5 Regulation 13 by its terms forbids only conduct. However, its prohibition does include an element of restraint on speech in that by forbidding mingling and circulating it indirectly prohibits oral communication.

6 We note, but need not determine on the facts of this case where the actual solicitation of drinks is shown, that a prohibition of entertainers’ indiscriminate solicitation of drinks may be enforceable effectively only by prohibiting entertainers from mingling with and circulating among patrons.

7 Individual Justices of this court have accepted the availability of an overbreadth argument under art. 16. See Justice Kaplan, dissenting in part, joined by Chief Justice Tauro, in Revere v. Aucella, 369 Mass. 138, 149-150 (1975); Justice Kaplan and Justice Liacos, concurring, in Commonwealth v. Sees, supra at 538 (1978).