CMPD shuts down four illegal parties for violating alcohol and coronavirus rules
North Carolina has moved into Phase 2.5 of reopening — loosening some restrictions on restaurants and bars — but Charlotte Mecklenburg Police’s Alcoholic Beverage Control detectives are still busy enforcing the state’s coronavirus executive order, CMPD said.
In the past week, CMPD has also shut down four illegal parties being held at businesses, residences and an AirBnB.
CMPD said officers cited two locations that were inspected repeatedly: Hoppin’ in South End and El Centenario, which is on North Tryon Street near Eastway.
While restaurants and bars still cannot sell alcohol beyond 11 p.m., establishments in Mecklenburg County are now allowed to continue serving customers food on site after 11 p.m. Customers can also sit in bar areas with enough social distancing, officials have said.
Closing bar counters in Mecklenburg was imposed in late July in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Some businesses said the rule hurt them economically.
Mecklenburg Public Health Director Gibbie Harris has warned that young adults account for a large number of coronavirus cases, and restricting alcohol sales can slow the virus’s spread in that population. Young adults ages 20 to 39 make up nearly 45% of all cases in Mecklenburg, according to county data.
Within a four-day period in September, CMPD shut down four illegal parties:
▪ Police said they found 70 to 80 people at an illegal party on South Boulevard with an active DJ on Sept. 2. Police said they charged the responsible vendor with violating city laws around dance halls and the N.C. governor’s executive order. Police said they sized 187 liters of alcohol.
▪ The next day, police cited the owner of Lounge Reloaded on Smiths Corners Boulevard for selling alcohol without a permit. The party was advertised online, police said.
▪ On Sept. 4, police said, they responded to reports of a party at Camelot Drive and found a “large crowd” inside an AirBnB rental. Police said they spoke to the owner, who terminated the rental agreement. That prompted people to leave the property.
▪ On Sept. 5, police said they found an “illegal party advertisement” for a home on Sunburst Lane. Police said they issued the “person in charge” with a dance hall violation. While people were leaving, police said they heard around 13 gunshots in the area but found no victims or suspects.
CMPD said it has inspected approximately 533 locations that sell alcohol since August 7. Last month, CMPD cited several businesses and gambling arcades for violating alcohol laws and said officers had visited around 289 businesses.
