NYE 2009 compliance ALERT

We have received additional information and recommendations for you to follow tonight and every night. We understands from reliable sources that the SFPD and the ABC are going to focus their enforcement efforts on SF music and entertainment venues on NYE. The message is "zero tolerance" for any breach of regulations or license conditions. The enforcement will be by both uniformed and undercover ABC and SFPD officers.

WE SUGGEST:

1. We urge you to carefully monitor the conduct of your patrons and of your employees. If any incidents do occur, we also strongly encourage you to use the attached form for reporting purposes, Please make several copies of the form before the evening commences, and have them available at your venue.

2. Have your legal occupancy posted on each floor. Maintain in-and-out clickers and do not exceed your legal capacity.

3. Have your Place of Entertainment, Extended Hours, SF Business license, current ABC license and SFPD assembly permits posted behind the bar [or easily accessible]. Make sure all permits are current. We suggest that you have a duplicate copy of ALL permits to give to enforcement agents upon their request.

4. Consider having a staff person with a video camera tape any encounter with the SFPD and ABC.

5. Be polite and professional with ABC and the police or fire department tonight. They MAY be aggressive and seem rude to you. It is hard to remember when it is happening to you, but these officers are dealing with nothing but problems and drunks all night; it may affect their attitudes. You and your staff should remain calm and professional. It may seem that they want you to get mad so they can arrest or cite you for interfering with an ABC investigation. Insist on professionalism from your staff no matter what the circumstances.

6. Be extremely diligent with checking ID's at the front door. Think about videotaping everyone and their id's at the front door to prove the patron had an id when they entered the club. If you have a video system make sure it is working properly-- test it now.

7. Keep your front door, sidewalk and front line clear and orderly. Put your smartest security person up front and charge them with interacting with the police, and caution them to be professional, courteous and responsive to the demands made to them by the police.

8. If the task force shows up have a sharp staff person with you as a witness at all times when you interact with the police or ABC. When they leave both of you should fill out reports and debrief each other so you get all details of the encounter down on your reports. Both of you should carry a small notebook and make notes of what was said, badge numbers etc.

9. Some venues have advertised "open bars". This is considered to be encouraging intemperance. The appropriate methodology is to issue each patron a set number of alcoholic drink tickets (5 to 10) and to keep non-alcoholic drinks available at all times.

10. Do NOT serve obviously intoxicated patrons. This is not allowed by the ABC code and you should not allow it tonight or any other night.

11. Check your bar for fruit flies in the bottles. Bugs will cost you 5 days or a $1500 fine.


While we know that all venue operations are improving to meet the challenges of the times, tonight will be a night on which we will all be judged. Have a successful night, be safe and ring in a great 2010.

San Francisco Late Night Coalition
Terrance Alan
Chairman