Remember me telling you about the post-Governor Hogan visit from the Alcohol Beverage Board Enforcement folks (click here?) The Monday following the Governor’s visit to the Store, the two officers dropped in to inform me that they had watched the video and had observed folks drinking on the front porch. They informed me that I was in violation of the extension of premise regulation(s) and that I needed to obtain approval from the Alcohol Beverage Board.
Buzzy had told me that we were ok and that people could drink on the porch, so it was something that I never worried about previously. However, since the officers’ visit to the Store in February, I have been worrying about it quite a lot. First, I was worried that the Alcohol Beverage Board would not approve my request for an extension of premise. And secondly, I was worried that I could get busted should someone be seen on the porch drinking before I had obtained the green light for it. (Folks have been drinking on Buzzy’s porch since 1887 so it was kind of hard to suddenly say that it’s off limits for drinking.)
Yesterday I appeared before the Board and requested an “Extension of Premise” that allows folks to drink legally on Buzzy’s front porch. The Board approved my request. Thankfully.
In the lead up to this meeting I have received lots of input from folks such as this one from a Democrat friend of mine “See, bad things happen when you associate with all those Republicans.” Then this one from a Republican friend “Some Democrat probably complained and turned you in.” So at least it was a bipartisan issue.
Also, I received several phone calls and even some visits to the Store from folks that went “Are you kidding me? I heard that the Governor got you in trouble.” I reassured them that I wasn’t blaming the Governor for the enforcement piece of it. In a way he did me a favor because now it is resolved and drinking on Buzzy’s porch is officially legit.
Someone in the Store yesterday afternoon commented that it won’t be as much fun sitting out on the porch drinking knowing that it’s now legal to do so. It will be for me. 