Bottle Battle Against Clubs

Bottle Battle Against Clubs
By DAVID SEIFMAN City Hall Bureau Chief
NY Post, August 25, 2006

Nightclubs that require patrons to buy bottles of liquor at $300 or more a pop are creating "dangerous" conditions that a Queens legislator pledged yesterday to stamp out.

Councilwoman Melinda Katz (D-Queens) said she is drafting legislation that would outlaw the popular practice by some nightspots of demanding partygoers purchase two or more bottles of liquor to guarantee a table.

"I believe the two-bottle requirement is dangerous," said Katz. "Nobody's buying a $300 bottle of alcohol and leaving it."

Eight out of 12 clubs in and around Chelsea surveyed by Katz's staff imposed the "bottle service" requirement.

One of those was Guest House on West 27th Street, where 18-year-old Jennifer Moore was partying last month before a thug picked her up as she wandered drunk on the West Side, took her to New Jersey and killed her.

Guest House requires that two bottles be purchased per table, according to Katz's survey. Prices start at $300.

The nearby Cain club - where bottles are tagged $350 and up - has a minimum four-bottle buy-in for parties of 12 to 15.

Katz cited articles in The Post that exposed how some club owners resell leftover bottles as many as four times when big spenders actually leave a few behind.

Liquor laws are under the control of the state, not the city.

But Katz pointed out that the city intervened to ban smoking in bars just a few years ago.

"I'm not sure why we can't outlaw this practice, too," she said.

As insurance, Katz is adding a resolution asking state authorities to do away with the two-bottle minimum.

Katz is also looking to hike the minimum age for gaining entry to bars and nightclubs from 16 to 18. The drinking age in New York is 21.

"Do people know you could even get into a club at 16?" she asked.

Katz's aides reported that at the club Pre:Post "17-year-olds can come but cannot drink." Another club, 40/40, said a 17-year-old would be admitted "but has to leave by 11 p.m."

Ron Bookman, who represents the New York Nightlife Association, accused Katz of "grandstanding" and

predicted her legislation would never get beyond the draft stage.

"Ms. Katz is misinformed as to the city's authority in that issue. They have zero chance," he said.

"It's an embarrassment to her if she does it."

Bookman said it would make sense for all legislators to await a summit meeting scheduled next month with club owners before "picking on the industry."

Katz's legislation is being introduced on Sept. 13, along with other reforms pressed by council Speaker Christine Quinn.

The summit is scheduled for later that month.