SAN ANTONIO — Certain 'Bring Your Own Beer' establishments have caught the attention of one city leader. District Eight City Councilman Manny Pelaez is wanting stricter rules for what he calls loophole bars.
In a recent Council Consideration Request, Pelaez said much of San Antonio's crime occurs in the early morning hours in parking lots of local BYOB establishments.
"Shots fired, narcotics, DWI," he said.
He said BYOB establishments should be more strictly regulated.
"Technically, we can't call them bars because a bar is licensed TABC entity," he said. "These are these BYOB establishments." They don't have to have a license if they are a BYOB establishment. And then they were open until one, two, three, five in the morning."
Gayle McDaniel supports this change. She is the president of the Tanglewood Residents Association.
"Nobody is monitoring your consumption," she said. "Nobody is there to tell you this is the last call, you need to stop drinking and sober up. We should fairly and equitably enforce regulations, especially when it comes to alcohol."
Councilman Pelaez referenced, Jungle Hookah, a BYOB business in his district that was shut down earlier this year by the city. Last year, it was the scene of a deadly shooting. Police said 60 rounds were fired outside the hookah lounge.
The city released the following statement on why it was shut down this January:
This property had an extensive criminal history, which included multiple shootings and disturbances. The DART unit, to include Development Services, Metro Health, the Covert Unit and SAPD SAFFE conducted a late night inspection of Jungle Hookah in December of 2022. Multiple code and health violations were observed. The property's history included:
- zoning violations/operating outside of its certificate of occupancy
- no active health permit on file for the food prepared and served at the location
- air conditioning units installed without permits
- No permits on file for removal of the separation walls between two units
- Fire code ingress and egress points obstructed
- Plumbing concerns
- Multiple shooting/disturbances
- Robbery and Assaults
In January of 2023, the City Attorney's Office (CAO) reached out to the property owner who was leasing said property to the business owner. The property owner was given details of the issues with the business owner and that the location was operating as a public nuisance and if something was not done to correct the situation the City would file suit against the property owner and business owner, seeking closure of the property up to one year. Meanwhile, the City moved forward with the intent to revoke the certificate of occupancy.
The property owners were cooperative, aware of the situation and moved forward to evict the business owner. On January 19, 2023, City Public Services disconnected services to the Jungle Hookah Lounge for operating outside their certificate of occupancy. Facing the intent to revoke the certificate of occupancy, eviction proceedings, unpaid rent, mounting code violations, and the threat of utility disconnects, the business owner Frankline Ajeakwa aka Jungle Hookah entered into an Agreed Order and Permanent Injunction with the property owner, The Point Shopping Center, that required Jungle Hookah to cease any and all business operations at 6565 Babcock Rd. The property owner is now in control of the suite formerly occupied by Jungle Hookah. There are no restrictions allowing for the property owner to lease to any responsible business.
McDaniel said she supports local businesses. But, just wants to be safe.
"We want to be able to live in to our homes that back up to these kind of establishments and not fear of 60 rounds of automatic gunfire going off," she said.
Below are the following proposed rules from the CCR and the places that who would be exempt:
Pelaez's proposed rules would require these establishments to apply for and obtain BYOB permits, and require owners to adopt and enforce written policies on security, parking, lighting, and noise. There would be annual compliance inspections by code enforcement and SAPD, and City Councilwould have the ability to keep after-midnight BYOB businesses away from residences, schools, or places of worship.
The proposed rules applicable to BYOB establishments would not apply to residences, fraternal organizations, veterans organizations, universities or colleges, places of worship, licensed farmer's markets, bingo halls, banquet halls, and theaters that accommodate more than 100 patrons.