 "Photo: Ruth Ann Keener")
City officials have objected to a liquor permit renewal for campus store Tobacco International. A hearing on Feb. 9 before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission will be the first step in determining if they will be able to receive a renewal for their permit.
Tobacco International and Coffee Club, located at 10 E. 13th Ave., was cited in October 2004 for five violations of Ohio liquor laws. The violations include giving beer away, purchasing alcohol at retail for resale, selling alcohol on Sunday without a permit and underage sales.
The city of Columbus has objected to the permit renewal, said Matt Mullins, spokesman for the Ohio Division of Liquor Control.
The establishment can operate until its permit is denied, said Andrea Peeples, assistant city attorney.
There is no set number of violations that would warrant an objection for renewal. Objections are based on substantial legal grounds, Mullins said.
"Every situation is unique and they go by the evidence presented," he said.
The city looks at what establishments have had the most and most severe violations to determine who will receive objections, Peeples said.
"The city has to prove that the permit holder violated Ohio revised code 4303.292 which is grounds for refusal to issue, transfer or renew a permit," she said.
If Tobacco International is denied a renewal at the February hearing, they can appeal the ruling to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Mullins said.
A final appeal can be made to the appellate court, Peeples said. In all of these hearings the permit holder must present their side of the story and state what they have done or will do to improve the conditions.
If a liquor permit is not renewed, the establishment is not forced to close but it is no longer able to sell alcohol which may ruin the business, Mullins said.
Ryan Elmer, a sociology major, is a frequent customer of Tobacco International.
"I love that place. It has a good location that is central to campus and they've also got a really good selection," Elmer said. "I think they should get their permit renewed because in my opinion their violations aren't very significant."
An owner of Tobacco International could not be reached for comment.
Old School, located at 2159 N. High St., is also facing objections for their liquor permit renewal.
The bar received violations in May and November of 2004 including unsanitary conditions, insects and solid debris in liquor bottles, diluting liquor, purchasing beer for resale from an unlicensed agent, filthy restrooms, illegal possession and sale of beer and underage sales, Mullins said.
The objection for renewal was submitted by the city on Jan. 5, 2005. No hearing date has been set, Mullins said.
They also had two underage sale violations from 2001 and 2002.
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