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Applebee's gets OK to serve alcohol in dry Saline County Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - In a 3-2 vote Wednesday, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved a private club license for Applebee's restaurant in Benton, the second restaurant in the city to be approved for alcohol sales despite being in dry Saline County. The board rejected an appeal from a Pine Bluff liquor store that was fined after a teenager working for ABC's enforcement division obtained alcohol in the store. A store worker claimed the teenager lied about the incident. In approving alcohol sales at Applebee's, the board overturned a July 16 decision by ABC Director Michael Langley to deny a private club license to the restaurant. Langley denied the application after receiving letters of opposition from Saline County Prosecutor Ken Casady and the Rev. Ken Graham, pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Benton. Casady wrote that granting the application would skirt the intent of the county ban on alcohol sales and open the door to other national restaurant chains wanting to serve alcohol in Benton, resulting in a substantial change to the community. He did not attend Wednesday's hearing. Graham said at the hearing that many Saline County residents appreciate living in a dry county. "Our county is dry by a vote of the citizens, and it has served well to be a draw for families that want to live in our county," he said. Dizzy's Grill & Bistro became the first restaurant in Benton to obtain a private club license last year. Other establishments in the city that serve alcohol include a VFW club, a Moose Lodge and a country club. Applebee's manager Kirk Walker submitted 200 signatures of customers who support a private club license for the restaurant. Walker told the board the restaurant will only serve alcohol to customers who also order food. As required by state law, the private club will be a nonprofit corporation and will contribute to community organizations, he said. Graham argued that the law allowing nonprofit private clubs to serve alcohol is the Legislature's way of letting businesses subvert voter-approved bans on liquor sales. "I can't pass judgment on legislative matters," board chairman Ron Fuller said. Board member Tony Ellis said Walker was a good applicant and noted that no public officials other than Casady took stands against the application. Also Wednesday, the board voted unanimously to uphold the director's June 19 order fining Unified Package Store in Pine Bluff $400 and placing it on probation for 90 days for violating the state ban on alcohol sales to minors. ABC Agent Kenny Heroman said a 17-year-old girl who was working with the ABC division entered the store in March and bought a pint of vodka. Kareem Bearden, son of store owner Isaac Bearden Jr., testified that the girl asked another customer to buy the vodka for her. He admitted that the customer handed the vodka to the girl inside the store. Heroman said the girl told agents she bought the vodka herself. The girl did not attend Wednesday's hearing. Kareem Bearden was charged in Pine Bluff District Court with knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted and fined $500. Board member J.J. Vigneault said that in light of Bearden's court conviction, the fine imposed by the director was "very justified." Bearden and his father said they accepted the board's decision and would not pursue any further appeals. |
