White Owl shuts down for 12 days
The White Owl is undergoing a 12-day liquor license suspension and preferred closure for violating state liquor laws regarding minors.
Owner John Calderwood said he subsequently decided to change his door system.
“Now I don’t care if you’re 40; no ID, you’re not getting in,” Calderwood said. “I’m not going to let any minors sneak into my bar again.”
On Sept. 11 this year, a sting operation by the Logan City Police Department found the bar in violation of three separate state laws, said Earl Dorius, regulatory director for the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control.
“They sold alcohol to a minor and allowed an open container of beer to leave the building,” he said.
The bar’s third offense, he said, was having a minor on the premises.
“The White Owl is classified as a tavern and as such cannot have minors on the premises at all,” Dorius said.
DABC protocol expunges previous violations if an establishment goes three years without violating any laws.
“This is our first violation in 20 years,” Calderwood said.
El Toro Viejo, a restaurant in Logan, had its liquor license suspended from Oct. 19 to Oct. 24 this year for sale to a minor, in what Dorius assumes was the same undercover operation The White Owl was subject to.
“In The White Owl’s case, the sale to a minor and a minor on the premises were merged for one count and the open container was a separate one,” Dorius said. “That is typically done.”
The alcohol license at The White Owl has been suspended since Monday and will continue through Nov. 12. The establishment will also have to pay a fine of $500 and $155 in administrative fees. Calderwood chose to close the bar during this time to remodel and fix some things.
“We are reopening on Thursday the 13th with a band and a new look,” Calderwood said. “We’re doing some remodeling inside and making the best of [the shutdown].”
Calderwood also said he’s decided to make it policy that if a minor tries to get in with a fake ID he plans on calling the police and suing the individual.
Dorius explained the process of catching a bar in violation as difficult, but effective.
“[The White Owl] was all part of an undercover operation,” he said.
Dorius explained that police agents entered the bar and sat, waiting for the two operatives, an 18-year-old male and 19-year-old female, to enter. Both used valid IDs and were not prohibited from entering the bar. They ordered two Bud Lights.
The employee checking IDs did question the young woman after she ordered her beverage, at which time the employee removed her drink, refunded her money and asked her to leave. The employee never questioned the young man.
After the female operative left the premises, the two police agents approached the male operative and asked for his beer. They told him to leave and then walked out, one agent holding the Bud Light the young man had been drinking. There was no attempt by bar employees to take the beer from the agent, Dorius said.
Erik Johnson, a sophomore majoring in literary studies, said he frequents The White Owl at least once a week, and was surprised the bar was in violation at all.
“I’ve been to the Owl many times and they check IDs like nothing else,” he said. “One night I came with a 29-year-old friend. She was checked twice and I was checked three times. There’s always a guy at the door.”
Johanna Carling, a sophomore majoring in political science, said she has entered The White Owl once before to hang out with friends who wanted to drink.
“They checked some people I was with, but not my ID,” she said.
“There’s only one door,” said Heather Young, a senior majoring in apparel and textiles. “They had to walk through it to get out.”
Amir Malek, co-president of USU’s Greek Council, said the council decided this year to not hold public parties. Malek also feels ignorance is the driving force for the stigma around drinking and its connection to the Greek system at USU.
“It doesn’t happen all the time, but some minors are being arrested for drunk driving or vandalism and then saying they were at a fraternity party,” he said. “That has given the Greek system on campus a bad name.”
Without the campus-advertised fraternity parties, Young said she feels the drinking is a little out of control and may be why more minors are going to bars in Logan.
“It could just be out of control since it’s a college campus,” she said. “But I do know many people and friends that use older siblings’ IDs to get in and order beers.”
Whether or not more minors are going to bars to drink, it is still illegal and many students questioned had used false IDs when entering The White Owl in the past.
Young said a lot of her friends that are black or Asian can use siblings’ IDs to get in.
“[Employees] think they all look the same,” she said.
Johnson pointed out the many offerings of The White Owl.
“They have good food and music, not just beer,” he said.
Unfortunately, those seeking entertainment or a light snack at the bar will have to wait until it reopens on Nov. 13.
Calderwood said there is a lot The White Owl offers, but says he is still upset with the minors that are trying to get into the bar all the time and has decided it’s time to “declare war” on them.
-ireneh@cc.usu.edu
A sign from the owner of the White Owl, John Calderwood tells minors to keep away from his establishment. The White Owl has shut down temporarily for violation of several Utah liquor laws. (Photo by John Zsiray)