2008 Woodie Awards
Jake's Sports Café loses liquor license
Maggie Kiely
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: News
Some Texas Tech students may be disappointed to find out they no longer can take part in a favorite pastime at a local hotspot and popular music venue.
Scott Stephenson, owner of Jake's Sports Café, said his business lost its liquor license after serving three underage people on three different occasions: June 29, 2005; March 24, 2007; and June 16, 2007.
"We had two TABC stings and fraternity kids that we served in the last three years," Stephenson said. "We're not sure what's going to happen at this time."
While he said he is not sure what the future of Jake's Sports Café will be, one thing is for sure.
"Shows at Jake's are canceled all the way up until May," he said.
There is a strict policy given to servers to warn against serving underage drinkers, Stephenson said.
"If anybody serves a minor, whether we get caught or if I see them myself, we fire them," he said. "We have a zero-tolerance policy."
Stephenson said one of the waiters who served a drink to an underage patron had been working at Jake's for less than a week. He said the consequences for individuals who serve alcohol illegally is less detrimental than the consequences for the business.
"The consequences for the server are they get their TABC certification revoked," Stephenson said. "They can turn around the next day and reapply for the certification."
Sammi Rana, promotions director for KTXT-FM, said he heard rumors Jake's may be in trouble, but the timing of the cancellation surprised him.
"I just didn't know it was going to happen so soon," he said. "It's kind of surprising that of all the shows KTXT has booked, there has never been a problem with underage drinking. I, myself, am underage, and I've never witnessed or seen anyone underage drink."
Patrick Thompson, a senior electronic media and communications major from Denton, said he has booked venues at Jake's in the past, and from his experience, Jake's employees always were strict about underage drinking.
Scott Stephenson, owner of Jake's Sports Café, said his business lost its liquor license after serving three underage people on three different occasions: June 29, 2005; March 24, 2007; and June 16, 2007.
"We had two TABC stings and fraternity kids that we served in the last three years," Stephenson said. "We're not sure what's going to happen at this time."
While he said he is not sure what the future of Jake's Sports Café will be, one thing is for sure.
"Shows at Jake's are canceled all the way up until May," he said.
There is a strict policy given to servers to warn against serving underage drinkers, Stephenson said.
"If anybody serves a minor, whether we get caught or if I see them myself, we fire them," he said. "We have a zero-tolerance policy."
Stephenson said one of the waiters who served a drink to an underage patron had been working at Jake's for less than a week. He said the consequences for individuals who serve alcohol illegally is less detrimental than the consequences for the business.
"The consequences for the server are they get their TABC certification revoked," Stephenson said. "They can turn around the next day and reapply for the certification."
Sammi Rana, promotions director for KTXT-FM, said he heard rumors Jake's may be in trouble, but the timing of the cancellation surprised him.
"I just didn't know it was going to happen so soon," he said. "It's kind of surprising that of all the shows KTXT has booked, there has never been a problem with underage drinking. I, myself, am underage, and I've never witnessed or seen anyone underage drink."
Patrick Thompson, a senior electronic media and communications major from Denton, said he has booked venues at Jake's in the past, and from his experience, Jake's employees always were strict about underage drinking.
Disclaimer:
Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of The Daily Toreador, the department of Student Media or Texas Tech University. Student editors have the authority to make all online content decisions without censorship or advance approval and are solely responsible for the content of this Web site. None of the opinions expressed on this page are previewed by any university official. Any postings, SPAM or otherwise, considered by the editorial staff to be campaign endorsements for political candidates other than opinions of users attached to articles pertaining to election issues will be deleted immediately.
View the online policy here.
To report questionable content, send an email to dtonlineeditor@gmail.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 8
Kevin
posted 4/15/08 @ 12:58 AM CST
It's a wonder why this sort of thing doesn't happen more frequently here. I have never been carded once while living in Lubbock, even though I'm only 25 and look much the same as I did when I was underage (plus a few pounds. (Continued…)
R
posted 4/15/08 @ 3:02 AM CST
"I, myself, am underage, and I've never witnessed or seen anyone underage drink."
Riiiiiiight.
Jenny
posted 4/15/08 @ 4:18 AM CST
I don't know how you compare what happens to servers to what happens to businesses, but the consequences for the server are a lot more than just losing your TABC certification. (Continued…)
Blueberry
posted 4/17/08 @ 10:37 AM CST
what is really odd is that, despite them not having a liquor license, the same day this article came out, I saw a beer truck making a delivery to Jake's. (Continued…)
Post a Comment