Boulder BLA summarily suspends Chicken on the Hill’s liquor license for 15 days; show-cause hearing set

The Beverage Licensing Authority voted Wednesday to summarily suspend the liquor license for Chicken on the Hill for 15 days, after the City’s prosecutor and Boulder Police presented evidence that the establishment repeatedly served or admitted underage patrons, exceeded posted occupancy limits, and operated unapproved premise modifications that board members said created life-safety risks.

The action followed testimony from Officer Leah Reich, Boulder Police Department’s alcohol enforcement officer, who reviewed body-worn camera footage and officer reports and described repeated incidents in which people under 21 were served and in multiple cases were transported to Boulder Community Hospital after becoming incapacitated. “I’m very concerned,” Reich testified. City Deputy Attorney Chris Reynolds urged the board to impose the summary suspension and told the authority, “I would suggest a 15 day suspension would be appropriate until a … show cause hearing.”

Nut graf: The board found reasonable grounds to take emergency action under the BLA’s summary-suspension rules after police described a pattern of underage drinking, crowd-control and occupancy problems, and continuing unapproved changes to the restaurant’s layout. The BLA set a formal show-cause hearing for Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 5 p.m.

What the board…