Virginia Beach Goes Sober

Alcohol sales at Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheatre are reportedly halted for 30 days following the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board’s September 14th suspension of the venue’s liquor license.

But it’s not a done deal just yet. The suspension could be reduced to 10 days if Aramark agrees to pay $3,500 in fines. That would reinstate the license in time for the season-ending concert with Brad Paisley October 7th, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

The suspension is the result of a two-day ABC hearing in March. The probe into the shed’s security was launched more than a year ago following a complaint about the Live Nation-run shed’s parking lot being used as a meeting place for drug deals and underage drinking. The company was also accused of having bottles of rum for sale without the required tax stamps on them.

Aramark GM David Palmer testified during the hearings that security was beefed up at the shed’s lawn area and signs were posted stating the venue’s no-tolerance policy toward drug use on the premises.

On the plus side, ABC officials concluded that the amphitheatre hadn’t gained a reputation as a meeting place for drug use and there was no evidence that drug deals regularly took place there, the paper said.