SAN JOSE- When California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents went undercover inside the V.I.P. Lounge, known to some as the El Carnaval Bar, on North White Road in Santa Clara County, they found violations of California Alcoholic Beverage Control laws that lead to a 30-day suspension of the business' liquor license.
The Notice of Suspension, prohibiting the sale and service of alcohol for 30 days, was posted outside the bar on March 19, 2015.
During the ABC agents' undercover operation, which lasted several months, agents discovered V.I.P. employed dancers engaged in lewd conduct and sexually-oriented entertainment not permitted at an ABC licensed business. The agents also found that alcoholic beverages were being served during hours in which the business was not allowed to sell or serve alcohol.
"California ABC laws are in place for a reason," said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSELA) President Alan Barcelona. "ABC agents go into these establishments, many times during the middle of the night, to investigate whether businesses are putting employees, customers or communities at risk. They encounter many different elements, some of them very dangerous, in an effort to keep all of us safe, whether it is out on the road or in the restaurant or bar itself. "
The owner of the lounge agreed to the 30-day suspension.