Louisville Alcoholic Beverage Control trying to prevent violence at bars, nightclubs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Guns and alcohol have been a deadly combination in Louisville this year.

There have been at least four shootings at Louisville bars since the start of the year. The most recent one happened last month, when one person died and seven people were injured in a shooting at a nightclub in the Russell neighborhood.

In the past four months, there have been four shootings at four different bars.

"Now instead of an old-fashioned fight, they resort to guns," Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Brad Silveria said.

ABC is the agency that issues and strips licenses to serve alcohol. In March, Metro Council's Public Safety Committee unanimously passed an ordinance that would give ABC the authority to suspend a liquor license immediately after a shooting at a business. But so far, the agency has only issued one suspension.

Under the new ordinance, a business owner where a violent act happened would get an ABC hearing within three business days.

In May, ABC suspended the Hot Spot's license after four people were shot and two people died at the bar off Southside Drive. The city took immediate action after the shooting. Within hours, a notice posted on the front door of The Hot Spot stated that the business' alcohol license had been suspended.

"What I've seen with the emergency suspensions is that it did maybe prevent something else from happening," Silveria said.

But the suspension was overturned after a hearing.

ABC did not issue an emergency suspension following the shooting at H2O Lounge on West Broadway last month.

ABC can also send a business to code enforcement if it breaks the rules. Officers posted notices at both Afrokanza and Café 360 after both bars failed to keep guns out.

"Surrender 12-2 a.m. license and give up street furniture because a lot of congregation outside is what we believe to be the issue," said Silveria.

ABC said it will continue its crackdown in the hopes of preventing another tragedy from happening.

"One is too many," Silveria said.

ABC said it's focusing on educating bar owners about what best practices are before another shooting happens.

Anyone with information about any shooting is asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

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