Yesterday at the TABC (Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission) meeting, a new head of the agency, Clayton Byrd, was named.  Mr. Byrd replaces Ginna Winfree, who was the agency's attorney and had been serving as interim director since Keith Bell resigned in March of this year.

Will Cheek, Tennessee's alcoholic beverage law expert, said he is pleased with the decision.

William T. Cheek III"Kudos to the ABC for selecting Director Byrd. He has industry experience, knows many of the key players and seems to be precisely what the ABC needs to best serve the alcoholic beverage industry, which is a key economic engine for Tennessee," Cheek stated.

Will Cheek leads the firm's Alcoholic Beverage Team and writes an informative and often entertaining blog, Last Call, covering alcohol and hospitality news and events.  He is nationally known as the go-to source for Tennessee Liquor Law.

A full article was written by Cari Wade Gervin for the Nashville Post.

Last week, Bone McAllester Norton’s Alcoholic Beverage Law group played a role in the discussions about the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC)'s announcement that house-infused spirits would be banned in Tennessee restaurants and bars. Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and national media outlets picked up the story and interviewed two of our attorneys, Will Cheek and Rob Pinson.

Below is a list of media outlets that covered the story with links to the articles, where available.

• WTVF-TV


• WPLN-FM


• Nashville Post


• WGOW-FM


• Metro Pulse


• Reason

On Monday, the Tennessee ABC announced that enforcement against infused alcoholic beverages was being put on hold indefinitely. Stay up-to-date with all alcoholic beverage law happenings at LastCall.

 

Bone McAllester Norton PLLC is a full-service law firm with 33 attorneys and offices in Nashville and Sumner County, Tennessee. Our attorneys focus on 16 distinct practice areas, providing the wide range of legal services ordinarily required by established and growing businesses and entrepreneurs. Among our practices, we represent clients in business and capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, securities matters, commercial lending and creditors’ rights, commercial real estate and development, governmental regulatory matters, commercial litigation and dispute resolution, intellectual property strategy and enforcement, entertainment and environmental matters.   Our client base reflects the firm’s deep understanding and coverage of today’s leading industry and business segments. For more information, visit www.bonelaw.com.

Bone McAllester Norton attorney Will Cheek spoke with Metro Pulse about new rules from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission concerning house-infused spirits. Starting July 1, restaurants and bars can and will be fined if caught blending alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages together and selling them. This includes margaritas, sangrias and whiskey not mixed for immediate consumption.

“We don’t think the ABC is interpreting the law correctly,” Will said.

Read more about this crackdown here.

 

Bone McAllester Norton PLLC is a full-service law firm with 33 attorneys and offices in Nashville and Sumner County, Tennessee. Our attorneys focus on 16 distinct practice areas, providing the wide range of legal services ordinarily required by established and growing businesses and entrepreneurs. Among our practices, we represent clients in business and capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, securities matters, commercial lending and creditors’ rights, commercial real estate and development, governmental regulatory matters, commercial litigation and dispute resolution, intellectual property strategy and enforcement, entertainment and environmental matters. Our client base reflects the firm’s deep understanding and coverage of today’s leading industry and business segments. For more information, visit www.bonelaw.com.
 

By: Will Cheek
The Legislature considered curtailing the authority of ABC agents to enforce marijuana laws and eliminate their authority to arrest for criminal drug offenses. This seemingly innocuous change could have been the first step toward eliminating the ABC as a stand-alone agency. The change could have easily impacted the training and pay of ABC agents.

ABC agents have historically been active in marijuana eradication in Tennessee, benefiting from both federal and state funding, and being active in major raids. We presume that marijuana eradication is an important reason behind funding for higher salaries and more-comprehensive training for ABC agents.

The legislation failed this year, but we encourage industry insiders to closely monitor this issue in upcoming legislative sessions. Nationally, many states have considered merging their state ABC into other agencies, largely as a cost saving measure. Liquor experts generally agree that combining ABC functions with other state agencies is bad for the industry. Very bad.

In a heavily regulated industry, having dedicated trained experts in the field is generally seen as a necessary evil. If nothing else, it provides a relatively level playing field for competitors that might otherwise openly break laws to make money, if no one were watching.

With competition driving sales practices, instead of law enforcement, insiders see movement to a more reckless environment that could easily cause major increases in insurance, and eventually to overly restrictive legislative responses. Anyone remember Prohibition?

Eliminating the law enforcement duties of ABC agents simplifies merging the ABC with other state agencies. We saw this as a first step toward eliminating the Tennessee ABC, which from all signs is not good for the alcoholic beverage industry.

By James A. Crumlin Jr.
The volunteering in America report recently released by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which showed an increase in the number of Nashville volunteers, also reported important data on the volunteer life cycle, defined as the arc of civic involvement that tends to increase as citizens feel a deeper connection to their communities.

As board chairman of the Young Leaders Council, I am particularly intrigued by the research showing that the national volunteer rate tends to increase with age until mid-life. I have seen this trend firsthand in the young professionals establishing themselves in their careers who have expressed a desire to take their volunteerism to the next level by applying to the Young Leaders Council board training program.

Founded in 1985, YLC was developed to address the need to broaden and strengthen Nashville’s volunteer leadership base by training men and women ages 25-40 to effectively serve on the board of directors of nonprofit organizations in Middle Tennessee. To date, more than 1,800 graduates have served on the boards of 150 local nonprofit agencies.

I have found what Laurel Creech, chief service officer for the Mayor’s office and a graduate of YLC Class 38, said to be true: “There is growing national and local interest in weaving service into our daily lives and selecting passions that are important to us that we can dig into and make a difference. With the growing needs of low-capacity nonprofits and the budgetary constraints of local government, the opportunities to engage are vast.”

Since first participating in the program in 2003 as a member of Class 41, I have been inspired to serve on more than 15 boards, including serving as immediate past president of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee and as the current board chair of Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center Inc.

In addition to my involvement in the community, my board training has given me the tools needed to benefit my professional career. I have had the honor of participating in a number of leadership roles within my industry, the most exciting of which was when former Gov. Phil Bredesen appointed me to serve as a commissioner on the Tennessee Civil Service Commission through 2014.

Even in these challenging economic times, corporations realize the value of nonprofit leadership training because young leaders bring back to the workplace those skills they have learned through their volunteer experiences. Serving on the boards of area nonprofits introduces young leaders to a network of valuable contacts, in addition to providing an invaluable service to the community.

Today, more than ever, nonprofits benefit from the skills and passion that young leaders provide. I applaud all volunteers for their giving spirit during times of great need, and especially their continued desire to volunteer after things have improved.

James A. Crumlin Jr. is a member of Bone McAllester Norton PLLC law firm and was named the 2010 Young Leader of the Year by the Young Leaders Council.

The Alcoholic Beverage Group at Bone McAllester Norton PLLC congratulates 37 of our clients for their well deserved recognition in the Nashville Scene’s 2010 Best of Nashville Reader’s Poll.

  These are the winners in an impressive 53 categories:

Arnold Myint
Best Chef

Arrow
Best Strip Club

Artrageous
Best Charity Event

Baja Burrito
Best Burrito
Best Fish Taco

Belcourt
Best Move Theater
Best Place for a Cheap Date

Beyond the Edge
Best Sports Bar
Best Place to Throw Darts

Black 13
Best Tattoo Studio

Bud’s
Best Liquor Store

Café Coco
Best Late-Night Eats
Best Patio
Best After-Hours Hang

Five Guys
Best French Fries
Best Cheeseburger

Fleming’s
Best Steakhouse

Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Best Museum
Best Art Show - Chihuly at Cheekwood
Best Art Show - Golden Age of Couture at Frist
Best Place for a Cheap Date
Best Place to Take Kids When its Raining

Gigi’s Cupcakes
Best Place to Buy Cupcakes

Gold Rush
Best French Fries
Best Cheap Eats
Best Late-Nights Eats
Best Neighborhood Bar
Best Happy Hour
Best Sports Bar
Best Bar to People-Watch
Best Bartender, Patrick Noles

Grace’s Wine and Spirits
Best Liquor Store

Hutton Hotel
Best Boutique Hotel

Losers
Best Music Industry Hang

Mafiaoza’s
Best Family-Friendly Restaurant

McFadden’s
Best Place to Meet Single Women

Midtown Wine & Spirits
Best (most knowledgeable service) in a Wine Store

Nashville Symphony
Best Performing Arts Group

Nuvo Burrito
Best Burrito

Play
Best Gay Bar
Best Lesbian Bar
Best Place to Dance

Publix
Best Place to Buy Fresh Seafood

Pure Gold’s Crazy Horse
Best Strip Club

Red Rooster
Best New Bar or Club (opened since October 2009)

Ruth’s Chris
Best Steakhouse

Sambuca
Best Place for a Romantic Dinner
Best Restaurant Ambience
Best Service in a Restaurant

September’s
Best Restaurant in Sumner County

Sunset Grill
Best Dessert
Best Late-Nights Eats
Best Wine List in a Restaurant

Suzy Wong’s
Best After-Hours Hang

Trader Joe’s
Best Health Food Store
Best Grocery Store

Tribe
Best Bartender, Loy Carney
Best Martini
Best Pickup Bar
Best Gay Bar
Best Lesbian Bar
Best Place to Meet Single Men

Watanabe
Best Sushi Bar/Japanese Restaurant

Whole Foods
Best Health Food Store
Best Grocery Store
Best Place to Buy Fresh Seafood
Best Place to Shop Green
Best Specialty/Gourmet Store

Woodland Wine Merchant
Best (most knowledgeable service) in a Wine Store

Yazoo
Best Brewhouse

Zumi Sushi
Best Takeout

 

The Alcoholic Beverage Group at Bone McAllester Norton PLLC congratulates 37 of our clients for their well deserved recognition in the Nashville Scene’s 2010 Best of Nashville Reader’s Poll.

  These are the winners in an impressive 53 categories:

Arnold Myint
Best Chef

Arrow
Best Strip Club

ArtrageousBest Charity Event

Baja BurritoBest Burrito
Best Fish Taco

BelcourtBest Move Theater
Best Place for a Cheap Date

Beyond the EdgeBest Sports Bar
Best Place to Throw Darts

Black 13
Best Tattoo Studio

Bud’s
Best Liquor Store

Café CocoBest Late-Night Eats
Best Patio
Best After-Hours Hang

Five Guys
Best French Fries
Best Cheeseburger

Fleming’sBest Steakhouse

Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Best Museum
Best Art Show - Chihuly at Cheekwood
Best Art Show - Golden Age of Couture at FristBest Place for a Cheap Date
Best Place to Take Kids When its Raining

Gigi’s CupcakesBest Place to Buy Cupcakes

Gold RushBest French Fries
Best Cheap Eats
Best Late-Nights Eats
Best Neighborhood Bar
Best Happy Hour
Best Sports Bar
Best Bar to People-Watch
Best Bartender, Patrick Noles

Grace’s Wine and SpiritsBest Liquor Store

Hutton HotelBest Boutique Hotel

LosersBest Music Industry Hang

Mafiaoza’sBest Family-Friendly Restaurant

McFadden’sBest Place to Meet Single Women

Midtown Wine & SpiritsBest (most knowledgeable service) in a Wine Store

Nashville SymphonyBest Performing Arts Group

Nuvo BurritoBest Burrito

PlayBest Gay Bar
Best Lesbian Bar
Best Place to Dance

PublixBest Place to Buy Fresh Seafood

Pure Gold’s Crazy Horse
Best Strip Club

Red RoosterBest New Bar or Club (opened since October 2009)

Ruth’s ChrisBest Steakhouse

SambucaBest Place for a Romantic Dinner
Best Restaurant Ambience
Best Service in a Restaurant

September’s
Best Restaurant in Sumner County

Sunset Grill
Best Dessert
Best Late-Nights Eats
Best Wine List in a Restaurant

Suzy Wong’s
Best After-Hours Hang

Trader Joe’s
Best Health Food Store
Best Grocery Store

Tribe
Best Bartender, Loy Carney
Best Martini
Best Pickup Bar
Best Gay Bar
Best Lesbian Bar
Best Place to Meet Single Men

WatanabeBest Sushi Bar/Japanese Restaurant

Whole Foods
Best Health Food Store
Best Grocery Store
Best Place to Buy Fresh Seafood
Best Place to Shop Green
Best Specialty/Gourmet Store

Woodland Wine MerchantBest (most knowledgeable service) in a Wine Store

YazooBest Brewhouse

Zumi SushiBest Takeout