BAKERSFIELD -  On October 5, 2017, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents posted a Notice of Suspension at Shamrock’s Bar in Bakersfield. Alcohol sales are now prohibited at Shamrock’s indefinitely.

The license is suspended for the next six months and could be revoked if the owner cannot sell or transfer the license to someone qualified to operate the premises.

The suspension is the result of a six-week undercover investigation which took place earlier this year.  During the investigation, agents purchased cocaine from a bartender. Agents visited the bar multiple times.  In addition to purchasing cocaine from the bartender, the bartender also arranged for the delivery and sale of cocaine to undercover agents from a patron.  The bartender was arrested on St. Patrick’s Day and more than one ounce of cocaine was seized.  The involved patron was also arrested on a later date.

“There are many dangerous elements to an ABC agent’s job and this is one of them – working undercover and purchasing illegal drugs,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.   “Conducting undercover investigations inside establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages contributes to the safety of patrons, employees and the surrounding community.”