Club Loses Liquor License for Serving Minors

The liquor license of a local nightclub was permanently revoked for selling alcoholic beverages to underage patrons, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has announced.

Dozens of minors consuming alcohol were found on several occasions inside the Flamingo Club, located at 4001 W. 6th St., said Carl DeWing, a spokesman for the ABC.

“It is obvious the licensee and the employees of the Flamingo Club have no regard for the law against the selling and serving of alcohol to minors,” said ABC Director Jay Stroh. “For the safety of other minors and the public in general, it is appropriate to revoke the liquor license of this location.”

On Sept. 14, 1996, Los Angeles police officers found 59 underage people in the Flamingo Club, officials said. Officers found two more underage people drinking at the club on Aug. 27, 1997, DeWing said. On Oct. 17, 1997, LAPD officers found 42 underage patrons, ranging in age from 16 to 20.

Although accusations were filed in 1997, repeated appeals by the club’s owners prevented the ABC from taking action against the license until last week.

Both accusations were heard by an administrative law judge, with the decisions sent on to the state ABC Appeals Board.

The first accusation resulted in a 40-day suspension, with the formal penalty being a stayed revocation of the license for a two-year period pending further violations.

Since the second accusation, which included the two 1997 violations, was filed within the two-year period, the department sought the permanent revocation of the license.