Drinkers in Savannah Not the Only Ones Carded

Just about everyone in the City of Savannah serving up a cold one now is enrolled in the city's new bar card program... or at least they should be.

As of September first, anyone serving or handling alcohol in bars or hybrids need to be registered with the City of Savannah.

In tonight's Community Report News Three's Alice Massimi has more on this new program and what bartenders think.

Bonnie Walden has her bar card.  The co-owner of Bay Street Blues in Savannah she thinks it's a good idea... and part of doing business.

“I think the initial idea is a good idea. I worked thirty years in Atlanta and we had them all over Atlanta, everybody has to have them,” says Walden.  

While she says it wasn't a big deal when the city passed the new law last November. Officials felt it was a necessary one... after some local watering holes got in trouble for serving minors.

“To hold those who serve to underage drinkers more accountable for their action that was the whole purpose of it,” says Bret Bell with the City of Savannah.

It forces everyone who dispenses or serves alcohol at a bar or restaurant that turns into a bar at night to register.

In addition to getting fingerprinted and paying twenty-five dollars every two years, individuals must take a class.

“This is to make sure they know what the law is, to make sure they can identify fake ID's. This stuff is pretty basic stuff,” says Bell.  

One of the issues some bar owners have with this new ordinance is while you need a bar card to pour beer at Bay Street Blues you don't need one to pour it right next door at Tony Roma's. That’s because restaurants are not included in this new ordinance. The city council at the time felt that bars and hybrids are where most of underage drinking occurs.

“In essence if a person working in a bar makes a mistake and loses their bar card they can go to the next restaurant down the street and get a job,” points out Walden.

It’s a loophole that may have to be looked at in the future. Until then, drinkers and staff at these bars know they both could get carded anytime.

Roughly 800 people have already signed up for their bar cards.  If you haven’t done so yet you can stop by the Broughton Street Municipal Building for information.

The city says they now have to work out how to enforce the new law.