If a bar owner has a history of drunk driving, how should a community respond? A recent case involving a bar in Belltown shows that DUI arrests and convictions are taken very seriously when the offender operates an establishment that sells liquor.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that the State Liquor Control Board director has decided not to renew a Belltown bar's liquor license. The establishment, V-Bar Noodle Bar and Lounge has apparently had been under watch by police after a series of incidents involving misjudgments by bar staff.

Last September, V-Bar staff reportedly failed to make an emergency call for needed medical assistance. In October, the former owner was charged with falsely reporting and obstructing police. Then in March, he was arrested for firing a gun in order to stop a fight. No charge followed that incident, but the Liquor Control Board verbally warned him after a complaint was filed and suspended the bar's license.

In January, the Liquor Control Board told V-bar that it would be able to reinstate its liquor license if certain security measures and other conditions were met. Just last month, a 180-day suspension of the bar's license ended when it was again able to start serving alcohol again.

But then on May 4, the bar owner's liquor license application was denied by the head of the Licensing and Regulation Division, who said the City of Seattle was denying the license based on a 2005 incident which led to a DUI conviction for the owner. That charge was later amended to reckless driving. The Liquor Control Board also noted a 2008 DUI arrest, for which the owner later received deferred prosecution for five years and two years of probation.

Additionally, the City of Seattle received a number of letters from Belltown citizens and business owners who presented concerns over the atmosphere of "violence, fights, shootings, police calls" and a number of other issues.

Sources said the owner can now request a hearing on the denial within 20 days. While the owner maintains that the bar has safety as a prime concern, a number of locals are not so sure.

Whatever happens with the bar's liquor license, it is without doubt that bar's have grave responsibility when it comes to the safety of patrons and those on the roadways.

Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer, "State denies liquor license for Belltown bar," Casey McNerthney, 5 May 2011.