‘Patronize This’: City Hits St. Charles Bar With 3 Citations

The city has slapped a St. Charles bar with three liquor code citations in which the bar is accused of allowing an intoxicated man to enter and then served him a drink, leading to a profanity-laced confrontation between one of the owners and police.

Ave., faces fines and the possible suspension or revocation of its liquor license over the March 15 incident, according to the citation and notice of hearing the city issued this week.

Accompanying the citation is a five-page police report, which includes four pages of officers’ narratives about the incident.

Originally reported by police as an incident involving two potential citations — one for allowing an intoxicated person to enter the establishment, and a second for serving the intoxicated individual an alcoholic beverage — the city added a third citation charging the establishment with interfering or obstructing with an officer.

The House Pub has been ordered to appear before the St. Charles Liquor Commission at 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, 2013, in regard to the citations.

Early on March 15, two St. Charles police officers saw an intoxicated man stumbling around downtown and followed him into The House Pub, where they learned the man had been served a Jameson and Coke.

The city’s liquor code prohibits bars from “harboring” intoxicated individuals or allowing them to enter their establishments, as well as barring the establishments from serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is drunk. City officials commonly refer to the latter practice as over-serving alcohol.

Inside the bar, police said one of the owners, Thomas P. Wojcik, began arguing with the officers when they informed him they would be reporting the incident to the liquor commission. Police said Wojick became progressively more profane, at one point making a crotch-grabbing gesture and telling a sergeant to “Patronize this.”

Related:

• March 19, 2013: St. Charles Bar Faces Citation for Serving Intoxicated Individual

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