A public hearing was held to address potential violations of state law by a local business operating under a private club license. The meeting stemmed from a letter sent to the business owner on September 17, 2024, which outlined concerns regarding the establishment's practices, including the sale of bottle service and complimentary drinks—both of which are prohibited under Alabama's Administrative Code and the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board's regulations.

The hearing aimed to determine whether these violations warranted the revocation of the business's license. The city council received testimony from various parties, including Crystal Reed, an attorney representing the business. Reed argued that the business had promptly addressed the issues raised in the letter by ceasing the sale of hookah and bottle service upon receiving the notice. She contended that the city had not made prior attempts to rectify the situation before issuing the letter.

During the hearing, business owner Michael Catneyes acknowledged the violations but claimed a lack of awareness regarding the legality of certain practices, such as bottle service. He stated that the business had operated since 2018 without prior issues and expressed confusion over the interpretation of promotional language used in advertisements.

The council members engaged in a dialogue with Catneyes, questioning the establishment's training protocols for employees regarding responsible alcohol service. Catneyes confirmed that while they did not participate in a formal responsible vendor program, they maintained internal discussions and documentation on handling alcohol service responsibly.

As the hearing progressed, the council was tasked with weighing the evidence presented to decide if the violations constituted grounds for revoking the business's license. The outcome of this hearing could significantly impact the establishment's future operations in the community.