NORTHAMPTON — Three popular Northampton bars were among establishments in Massachusetts that had the highest number of “place of last drink” reports in recent years, a Boston Globe report found.
The term refers to bars or restaurants that allegedly were the last to serve intoxicated individuals who were subsequently arrested and convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (OUI).
In Massachusetts, a judge is required by law to ask a convicted OUI defendant where he or she was last served alcohol.
In Northampton, Bishop’s Lounge, 41 Strong St., tied for sixth among Massachusetts liquor establishments that had the most PLD reports with 29, according to the Globe analysis, which reviewed 8,364 of these reports following OUI convictions between January 2012 and September 2016.
Volkan Polatol, who owns Bishop’s Lounge, said Thursday he didn’t see a need to adjust practices at the bar and maintained that his staff was cautious as ever. Polatol estimated that, between 2012 and 2016, his bar welcomed as many as 120,000 patrons.
“It’s not like we did something wrong,” Polatol said. “If (there were) statistics on how many cabs and Ubers we called for people, I bet you we broke a record.”
By comparison, the establishment with the highest number of PLD reports is Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill in Foxborough, with 46, according to the Globe.
The information given in court is provided to the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, the office of the attorney general, the district attorney’s office and also the named establishment, according to the law.
Packard’s Bar, 14 Masonic St., tied for 12th with three other establishments, racking up 24 reports in which convicted OUI defendants said this was the bar they last drank at before their encounters with police.
After learning of the report, Packard’s owner Robert McGovern Jr. said he wasn’t discouraged by the findings and defended his staff’s practices.
“We are pretty diligent about not letting people in that have had too much, and the bartenders are more than vigilant about over-serving people,” McGovern said. “So, we don’t pay too much attention to a report like that.”
McGovern isn’t particularly concerned with his bar’s standing in the report because, by and large, he said, OUI defendants are not always honest with law enforcement at the time they’re pulled over. For all he knows, McGovern said, some folks could make up their place of last drink.
Tied at 49th with 16 other establishments is the now-defunct Diva’s Nightclub, which closed its doors last October. The Globe reported Diva’s had 13 PLD reports.
Two other western Massachusetts watering holes, McMurphy’s Uptown Tavern in Amherst, and Anthony’s Gentlemen’s Club in South Hadley, were also named in the Globe’s report. McMurphy’s Uptown Tavern could not be reached for comment Thursday, and a manager at Anthony’s said she was not familiar with the report and could not comment.
When it comes to enforcement, Northampton Police Capt. John Cartledge said the department remains proactive when it comes to liquor violations. On a regular basis, he said, officers survey liquor establishments downtown to ensure they are abiding by Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission procedures, which include having a staffer at the entrance and making sure their liquor license is visible.
“Our midnight shift does bar checks weekly and randomly to make sure all the establishments are complying with the local and state rules regarding alcohol,” Cartledge said. “And our local liquor licensing authority has rules establishments have to go by.”
Meanwhile, Brian Campedelli, who chairs the Northampton License Commission, said Thursday that he was aware of the Globe report and that the commission will discuss its findings at February’s regular meeting.
“I think there’s a few conversations that need to be had,” Campedelli said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of questions.”
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.