COVID-19 Assistance for Hospitality Businesses-Legal Guide SUPPLEMENT  Supplement 4/1/20 Recently, the government has made COVID-19 assistance for hospitality businesses a priority.  We have updated our earlier guide with the most recent legal information available. If you own a bar or restaurant and have any questions, I will be glad to consult with you free of Read more about Guide to COVID-19 Assistance for Hospitality Businesses[…]

Every so often there is a news item about the tons of leftover food that go to waste each year while millions of Americans go undernourished. As I recently learned, this is not a problem that can be easily pinned on politicians. In fact, the Federal Government and many states have legislation that protects food Read more about Leftover Food Donations by Restaurants: Why would you not do this?[…]

There are certain bills that a bar just has to pay on time. If you don’t pay purveyors or wholesalers you won’t have any food or drink to sell. But what about other, less vital accounts that you have? It’s easier to let those slide or get behind. If you do, the consequences can be Read more about Your liquor license can be seized to satisfy outstanding debts[…]

As you have no doubt heard, the DC sports betting law became a reality last week when the Council approved the measure by a vote of 11-2. The new legislation comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Murphy v. NCAA, which struck down a Federal Law restricting sports betting. The Council enacted Read more about New DC sports betting law: additional revenue for bars and restaurants?[…]

Settlement Agreements Can Seriously Impact Your Business If you are facing a liquor license protest, you need to be extremely careful when negotiating a Settlement Agreement with the ANC or citizen’s group. Seemingly innocuous or informative language could limit your ability to grow your business. Recently, the Board emphatically squashed a business’ expansion based on Read more about Liquor License Settlement Agreement: Bars Beware[…]

Holidays bring greater risk of alcohol service liability As we enter the Holiday season, there will be the annual barrage of office parties and in-home celebrations. Everyone should enjoy responsibly and refrain from drinking and driving. They should, but they won’t. So, you should do what you can to make sure that you are protected Read more about Holiday alcohol service liability for bars and homeowners[…]

DC Bars, Lounges and Nightclubs, concerned about cost effective security, need to get informed about two (2) government programs that can ease the burden on your budget. The MPD Reimbursable Detail Subsidy Program and the Private Security Camera Rebate Program. For participants in the Reimbursable Detail Subsidy Program, ABRA will absorb a sizable chunk of Read more about The District will give you money to lay off some security cost[…]

If you have a liquor license in DC, and for whatever reason you are not operating, the law requires that you temporarily turn your license in. This process, known as Safekeeping, is most common in cases of repair/renovation, moving to a new location, expired leases, or a sale of the license after an establishment has Read more about ABC License Safekeeping is not so safe[…]

A fact finding hearing is usually much worse than it sounds The ABC Board is authorized to hold several different types of hearings. Among them, is a fact finding. In a fact finding, you haven’t been formally accused of anything…yet. The Board just has some questions that they want to ask you. If that sounds Read more about “The ABC Board has scheduled a fact finding,” translation: Shut-up, stupid[…]