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Ohio Liquor Board Cites Businesses at Loop Fest in Shadyside

The state Liquor Control Board cited three businesses with alcohol-related infractions during the Loop Festival in Shadyside.

Tiger Pub and American Legion Post 521 each received citations during Shadyside’s 10th Annual Loop Festival on Friday, which agent-in-charge Erik Lockhart said were strictly administrative. A third, temporary license holder also received a citation. None of the citations were criminal offenses, he said.

Loop Festival committee co-coordinator Tim Merryman said the festival has never had a problem in the past.

“We have had the Loop Festival for 10 years and alcohol is not permitted on the loop,” said Merryman. “In my opinion, someone had an axe to grind and did so Friday. The festival itself was never affected.”

However, at least one of the business owners said he is unhappy with the way the board conducted its investigation.

“For nine years, I have filed the paperwork correctly for the beer garden and the exact same procedure,” said Matthew Coffland, owner of The Tiger Pub. “On the 10th year now, all of a sudden it is incorrect because I did not have an invoice where the beer was sold to the Shadyside Loop Fest committee. It’s already run under my license and on my property. I buy and sell it as part of their donation to keep this festival going.

“It is our one major event in our community and it was a poor display by liquor control and local law enforcement to make a scene of that nature,” he said. “It could have been handled discretely and everyone go about their business. Instead I have four liquor control officers and seven local policemen in my establishment at 10 p.m. on my biggest night of the year.”

The Tiger Pub and a temporary permit holder were cited for:

∫ Permitting removal of beer or intoxicating liquor sold for on-premises consumption;

∫ Insanitary conditions (fixtures, equipment, tables, counters, coolers/refrigerators or utensils not clean or sanitary);

∫ Sale or transfer of alcoholic beverages between permit holders; and

∫ Failure to purchase from an authorized source by an F permit holder.

Coffland said he took precautions to ensure people would not take alcohol off his premise.

“There is a sign right on my door that reads ‘Stop no open containers permitted outside,'” he said. “It’s right there in black and white. The liquor agent commits the crime, not any individual. It is basically entrapment.”

Meanwhile, the American Legion Post 521 had two citations. They were:

∫ Permitting removal of beer or intoxicating liquor sold for on-premises consumption; and

∫ Sale of beer or liquor to a non-member.

The festival ran through Saturday.

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