After being found in violation of the city’s beer code, Leapin’ Leprechaun Pub and Eatery on Market Street will stop selling beer for three days this month.
The pub and restaurant, located at 100 Market Street directly across from the Tennessee Aquarium, is known for its Irish charm and reputation as a popular drinking spot downtown since its opening in 2016. On Thursday, city of Chattanooga beer board members cited the pub for two violations, handing down the punishment of suspending beer sales starting Thursday, Jan. 17 through Saturday, Jan. 19.
Board members first cited them for staying open past their closing time of 3 a.m. and then overserving drunk patrons. For the first violation, members unanimously voted to suspend sales for three days and for the second violation, they unanimously voted to suspend sales for three days but will allow the pub to serve that suspension during the same three-day time period as the first.
The pub will still be allowed to serve food and liquor, although they were also given a $750 fine from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which oversees liquor licenses. The city’s beer board did not give them an option of a fine in lieu of the three-day suspension.
According to Chattanooga Police Department officer John Collins, officers and TABC agents were doing bar checks on the night of Thursday, Dec. 20 to make sure bartenders were not overserving customers and no one was driving home drunk.