Ga. Town: Karaoke Leads to More Bars, More Crime

Lilburn Plan Strikes a Wrong Note with Some

A Georgia town is outlawing games in all alcohol-serving establishments to keep the focus on drinking.

The Lilburn city government started with a ban on billiards and soon extended it to karaoke, card games, and video games in any place that sells alcohol.

Town mayor Jack Bolton said the move prevents restaurants from becoming bars, and said he doesn't want dance or party clubs in his town.  

The Lilburn city ordinances only allow an alcohol license for establishments in which 50 percent of revenues come from food. Bolton said it is a difficult standard to prove, and it's simply easier to ban games that are common to bars than to try and regulate each restaurant.

A search of the businesses in Lilburn shows a number of businesses that this ordinance may affect, like Zoo Tavern, the Dumpster Sports Bar and Grill, and the Sports Fan Bar and Grill. Lilburn said the Sports Fan was one of the bars specifically targeted by his ordinance.

Owner Richard Tao said the ordinance will hurt his business because his card and trivia games, and karaoke games as well, are quite popular with patrons. He already had a conflict with Lilburn police who claimed the bar had gambling on its premises because of the regular poker games. Tao disagreed, saying players were just competing for prizes. The state attorney general sided with the bar.

Bolton said it is all part of an effort to keep the town family-friendly, and said he has statistics that show bars cause increased crime in nearby areas.

Sports Fan patron Dave Metcalf said the bar is not in a family-friendly neighborhood to begin with, and believes the karaoke singers are just looking for some harmless fun - not any trouble.

Lilburn may be the first to attempt to ban games outright, but other towns are also concerned. Lewiston, Maine requires all bars to have both a liquor license and a separate entertainment license before offering any type of karaoke, DJ, or other form of entertainment on its premises.