Originally reported July 10, 2008.
Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board officials said they had increased enforcement at private clubs in downtown Mobile after receiving complaints from local officials and law enforcement.
ABC Lt. Michael Cook said many of the clubs initially inspected had license-related violations. Private clubs could serve alcohol between 2 a.m. and noon on Sundays, but were required to issue membership cards and limit admission to bona fide members and their guests.
Mobile City Councilman William Carroll said the visible presence of several enforcement officers during a downtown visit concerned him and could be perceived as intimidating. Club owners, who did not speak on camera, expressed concern that the enforcement effort could affect their ability to remain open during the Sunday-morning hours.
Cook said the agency was not trying to put businesses out of operation, but to bring them into compliance. He said violations had declined in the weeks after the stepped-up checks and that officers could shift their attention once compliance improved.