Bensalem Township Citizens Club v. Pa. Liquor Control Board

37 Pa. D. & C.3d 312, 1985 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 278
Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Bucks County·Decided November 27, 1985·No. no. 11 M.M. 1983 (05)·Published

Opinion

GARB, P.J.,

This is an appeal from the order of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (board) of March 1, 1983 in which appellant’s club liquor license is revoked. At the hearing before the board the following findings of fact were made:

“1. The licensed organization, by its servants, agents or employees sold liquor and/or malt or brewed beverages on the licensed premises to a non-member on September 23, October 2, 1982.
“2. The licensed organization, by its servants, agents or employees sold, furnished and/or gave liquor and/or malt or bre.wed beverages between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on October 2, 1982.
“3. The licensed organization, by its servants, agents or employees permitted gambling, gambling devices, paraphernalia and/or lotteries on the licensed premises on September 23, 1982.”

A hearing was held before the undersigned during which Allen Stare, an enforcement officer of the board, testified on behalf of the board. Thomas Tyler, the recording secretary and steward of appellant testified for appellant. Having heard the foregoing testimony,-we hereby make the following

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. The licensee is the holder of club liquor license no. C-3526 and is located at 5433 Bensalem Boulevard, Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pa,

2. On September 23, 1982, Allen Stare was an enforcement officer for the board engaged in an investigation of the activities of appellant/

[314]*3143. On two occasions prior to August 16, 1982, the date oh which the investigation began, Stare had attempted to gain admission to the club without success.

4. On September 23, 1982 at approximately 8:05 p.m., Stare arrived at the club premises, rang a buzzer and was admitted by an unidentified person.

5. At that time, Stare was not a member of the club.

6. Stare proceeded to the bar where he was met by one Bud Badér who asked Stare if he was a member of the club to which Stare responded in the negative. Stare was asked to sign a book before he was permitted to purchase any alcoholic beverages.

7. After having signed the book, Stare was told by Bader that if anyone asked who he was he was to respond that he was Bader’s brother-in-law.

8. At 8:25 p.m., Stare was asked if he wished to become a member of the club, to which he responded in the affirmative, and Bader then furnished an application blank, a copy of which was given to Stare in return for which Stare paid the sum of five dollars. The bartender, “Gloria,” then signed the back of the application and Bader signed as the sponsor.

9. The by-laws of the club provide that any regular or social member of the club may sponsor a new applicant. Bader is a regular member of the club.

10. Another male person at the bar was playing an electronic poker machine, there being two such machines near the entrance doorway.

11. At approximately 8:35 p.m., the man playing said machine told Bader that he wished to stop. Bader then said something to the bartender, who [315] placed a piece of paper in the cash register and, as a result thereof, gave five dollars to the person playing the poker machine. At that time, the poker machine reflected 20 credits.

12. Stare then left the premises.

13. On October 2, 1982, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Stare returned to the premises and rang the buzzer requesting admission.

14. The person monitoring the front door asked if he was a member to which he responded in the negative and was refused entry until he showed his copy of the application form he had completed on September 23, 1982, whereupon he was'permitted entry.

15. Stare then proceeded to the bar where he ordered and was furnished three bottles of beer at 2:15, 2:50 and 3:20 a.m. Shortly after 3:20 a.m., the bartender left the bar and the club was closed.

DISCUSSION

This appeal is taken from the opinion and .order of the board pursuant to the provisions of section 471 of the liquor code, the Act of June 3, 1971, P.L. 143, 47 P.S. §4-471. Therefore, we hear this matter de novo making our own findings of fact and conclusions of law and in the exercise of our discretion either sustain, reverse or modify the action taken by the board. Noonday Club of Delaware County Inc. Liquor License Case, 433 Pa. 458, 252 A.2d 568 (1969).

As noted previously, there were three basis upon which the order of revocation was entered. The first of these is that appellant served a nonmember, Stare, on September 23 and October 2, 1982. Although Stare was in fact a nonmember on both of [316] these occasions, we do not believe that the furnishing of alcoholic beverages to him on those occasions is a violation of the liquor code. The evidence which we have found reveals that on September 23, 1982 Stare was asked whether he desired membership in the club and was permitted to and did complete a written application, paying five dollars for the application fee. The foregoing, of course, is in compliance with the requirements as set forth in section 102 of the Liquor Code. The bylaws of the club permitted him to participate as a club member for a period of 30 days, during which the application could be investigated and voted upon by the membership. He was sponsored by an active member of the club and the name of the bartender wás written on thé reverse side of the application. He retained a copy of the application blank. Therefore, on September 23 and October 2, 1982, it was permissible for him to purchase alcoholic or malt or brewed beverages upon the premises by the by-laws of the club itself. He previously had been denied entry into the club, and was denied entry on October 2, 1982, until he displayed his membership application. .The procedure which was followed was in conformity with the requirements of the Liquor Code. Distinguish Veterans of Foreign Wars Liquor License Case, 208 Pa. Super. 78, 220 A.2d 407 (1966).

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Bensalem Township Citizens Club v. Pa. Liquor Control Board, 37 Pa. D. & C.3d 312, 1985 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 278 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1985).

37 Pa. D. & C.3d 312 (Bensalem Township Citizens Club v. Pa. Liquor Control Board) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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