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Agency finds 10-year-old taking alcohol orders at local Mexican restaurant (http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=nwat&section=News&storyid=26503)

BY DREW TERRY Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005

Fourteen restaurants received citations in the past two weeks during compliance checks conducted in Fayetteville by the Arkansas Alcohol Beverage Control agency.

Among the violations recorded during the checks March 16 and Wednesday was one to Elenita’s Mexican Café, 701 S. School Ave., for allegedly having a 10-yearold child taking orders for adult beverages. "That was the youngest hostess or waitress I’ve ever seen," ABC agent Mike Jones said Friday. "They had a 10-year-old taking orders for the alcohol, but she didn’t serve it. She placed the order with another employee, who later delivered it to the underage (patron)."

With parental consent, a 19-year-old may serve alcohol, he said.

Agents perform compliance checks periodically to reduce the sale of alcohol to minors and to ensure outlets are checking for appropriate identification.

Elenita’s was visited March 16 because of a prior violation three weeks earlier when the Fayetteville Police Department discovered nearly 20 minors in possession of alcohol at the restaurant, Jones said. "I cited the owner proba- bly two weeks prior for selling to a minor, so we just went back to check because of the previous complaint," Jones said. "You would think that a place would try to straighten up after a violation, but that wasn’t the case in this instance."

The ABC offered to settle the prior violation with a $750 fine and five-day suspension, Jones said, but a penalty should be steeper in light of the recent incident.

Attempts to call Elenita’s managers Friday were unsuccessful because the restaurant’s telephone number is disconnected.

Agents perform compliance checks every month throughout the state. They last took place in Washington County in January, when Jones found no violations while focusing on liquor stores. "That’s real good," he said. "My hat’s off to the businesses that do a good job in checking the identifications."

In the most recent checks, Jones worked with the Arkansas State Police and a 17-year-old volunteer.

A trooper would enter the establishment and observe the minor order alcohol. If he was served, the trooper would notify Jones, who then would enter the business and issue and misdemeanor criminal offense to the employee for unknowingly selling to a minor. He then would inform the manager of the violation.

Twelve businesses were checked March 16. The other six that received a violation were El Chico’s, Hooters, Mexico Viejo, Powerhouse Seafood & Grill, Shogun Japanese Steakhouse and U.S. Pizza, Jones said.

Of the 15 establishments examined Wednesday, another seven were cited: Flying Burrito on North College Avenue, Smokey Bones BBQ, On the Mark, Casa Torres, Big Daddy’s, La Huerta on Crossover Road and Las Palmas on South School Avenue, Jones said.

Those businesses could face $200-500 in fines and some kind of probation, Jones said.

Flying Burrito on North College Avenue

I want to eat a Flying Burrito.

My favorite restaurant name is a local place called the Squat & Gobble.

Jesus- where do you live? Deep Appalachia? I would fear for my intestinal tract eating at anyplace with the word Squat in its title.

I think I can get a Squat and Gobble for about $40 out by the airport.

My favorite restaurant name is a local place called the Squat & Gobble.

I don't believe you. You will have to go take a picture of their sign and post it here.

A) I don't own a camera
B) I'm not sure it's still in business, but it was around for a very long time, from pre-me to at least 10 years ago, when I was last down that way.

Burger Chef, that was my favorite hamburger joint as a kid. Used to love getting those little fucking 45'records made out of wax and cardboard in their version of the Happy Meals, with the vampire character whose name I forget. Burgula? Something like that. Totally whack job branding.

I too remember getting dressed up to go eat at the Holiday Inn on Sundays.