BRISTOL, CT – Inspectors from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection’s Liquor Control Division made a horrific discovery this week at a bar in Briston. Inspectors arrived at 10:12 pm on November 13th at the Legend’s Sports Bar on Pine Street. What they saw was shocking and dangerous. People were in the bar ordering drinks, listening to music and playing a game of pool. Outlandish behavior at the bar forced the LCD to immediately suspend the bar’s liquor license.
In Connecticut, to save lives from the deadly COVID-19 virus, all bars must close at 10 p.m. Arriving at 10:12 p.m., the state agents were able to save many lives that night. COVID-19 was running late and all patrons were evacuated from the premise before the deadly virus struck later that night. In Connecticut, COVID-19’s most deadly hours come after 10 p.m.
Why? Because some Karen in Bristol reported the bar.
“This suspension comes because of a referral from the Bristol-Burlington Health District received on Monday, November 16, by Department of Consumer Protection’s (DCP) Liquor Control Division regarding events that occurred in the evening hours of November 13, 2020,” the state said. “That night, Legend’s Sports Bar was found to be operating in violation of Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Orders and corresponding Phase 2.1 Sector Rules, which were updated and implemented in response to the declared COVID-19 public health crisis.”
Agents from the Bristol-Burlington Health District arrived around 10:12 p.m. on November 13 to conduct a spot inspection of Legend’s Sports Bar. At that time, agents found about 45 patrons within the establishment.
Drinks were actively being served from the bar and customers were drinking without also consuming food, while others played pool even though the business was supposed to be closed and empty of customers by 10 p.m.Marco Palmeri, Director of Health for the Bristol-Burlington Health District, stated in a letter to DCP Liquor Control Director John Suchy, that the establishment was in full service after 10 p.m. and there was no indication it would close soon. This was despite several emails being sent to businesses in the district alerting them to the changes to the sector rules.
“We expect liquor establishments in our state to take public health and safety seriously,” said DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. “The guidelines implemented to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 were established to protect the public, and those who intentionally ignore those guidelines put themselves, their employees, their customers and their community at risk. I want to thank the Bristol-Burlington Health District officials for their work and cooperation in this matter, and their expediency in bringing these violations to our attention.”
Delaware Governor Ned Lamont thanked the heroic efforts of the Bristol-Burlington Health District for putting their lives at risk, entering the bar past 10 p.m., dodging airborne droplets of COVID-19.
“This latest action by the Department of Consumer Protection shows once again that establishments that are not operating in the interests of public health will not go unnoticed. The sector rules are in place for one reason – to keep customers and employees safe,” LaMont said. ” We must give credit to local authorities for taking the COVID mitigation measures seriously, and the State of Connecticut will step in with these kinds of actions if necessary. Enforcement of these rules is a tool in the toolbox to keep residents safe.”