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Yesterday, Eater reported on alcohol violation charges filed by the ATC against Dos Jefes and other Uptown bars. Sounds pretty severe, right? Well, the Uptown Messenger reports that it's really a tobacco violation, but the restricting sale of tobacco is a condition of the alcohol license. The tobacco sting, which is part of a three-year tobacco-compliance program funded by a grant from the FDA, also nabbed Cooter Brown's and Snake and Jake's, set for hearings in September.
As for Dos Jefes, alcohol board members decided they need to add a doorman to check IDs. It also seems the Alcohol Board members are a bit curious as to the impetus behind the sting and their jurisdiction over such violations, spending more time questioning the City Attorney than Dos Jefes' sale of cigs to a minor.
Dos Jefe's Shawn Stallard likened the city-wide sting?involving a 15-year-old walking in the bar, asking if there's a cigarette machine and buying some?to entrapment, saying, "We haven't had any minors in here until he [the ATC agent] brought one.”
·Tobacco Stings Target Bars [Uptown Messenger]
·All ATC Sting Coverage [EaterNOLA]