By Gregory Smith
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The city Board of Licenses is threatening a crackdown on the sale of bottles of liquor at nightspots.
It is legal, generally speaking, for a restaurant or bar to serve a bottle of wine or beer. But it is illegal to sell a bottle of distilled spirits. The contents of the latter, by law, must be dispensed by a trained server, apparently because of the higher alcohol content.
But nightclubs in particular, according to the board, sell bottles of liquor such as vodka and brandy to patrons who want VIP seating. If they do not stop, they will be subject to fines and suspension or revocation of their liquor licenses, the board said in a recent letter to 389 licensees.