Lake bar ordered to serve 21-day suspension

Accused of refilling liquor bottles with cheaper brands

by Marianne Gasaway

The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) announced Monday that the Surf District Bar and Restaurant in Clear Lake has been ordered to serve a 21-day suspension for violating state liquor laws.

According to the ABD, a hearing complaint was filed on July 2, 2020, alleging that the establishment reused and refilled liquor containers in violation of the Iowa Code.

On Oct. 19, an administrative law judge issued a decision and agreed, “based on the preponderance of the evidence, that cheaper liquor was poured into more expensive bottles, and that the action of the establishment were serious and did indeed put public health safety at risk.”

Records show an individual submitted a complaint to the ABD on Oct. 10, 2019 alleging the establishment had specifically poured Hawkeye brand vodka and whiskey into more expensive counterparts.

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember][wlm_ismember]

The complaint also alleged that the bar was putting a mix of Hawkeye Whiskey and “apple pucker” into the Crown Royal Apple bottle.

Online records state an ABD investigator later found heavily-worn bottles of Jack Daniels and Crown Royal Apple behind the bar were almost full.

The investigator examined purchase records from the Quick Shop in Clear Lake, where the Surf District said its liquor was purchased between Jan. 1 and Oct. 25, 2019.  It was found that only one bottle of Jack Daniels, compared to 94 bottles of Hawkeye whiskey were purchased during the time period.  During the same period, five bottles of Absolute Citron vodka and two bottles each of Tito’s and Absolute vodka were purchased, along with 206 bottles of Hawkeye vodka.  Just one bottle of Crown Royal whiskey and no bottles of Crown Royal Apple were purchased, but 12 bottles of Dekuyper Sour Apple Pucker were bought.

Mike Maulsby is the owner of M N G Restaurant Corp which operates the Surf District Bar and Restaurant.  Grant Maulsby appeared on behalf of the licensee at the July 2 hearing.  Bar manager Jeremy Maulsby was also referenced in the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals hearing.

The suspension will start no earlier than Nov. 18.  The Surf District’s owners have 30 days to appeal the decision.

The details of the case can be viewed at iowaabd.com.

[/wlm_ismember]