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State Agents Say Ybor Club Refills Bottles

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2007

YBOR CITY - Club Fuel, the popular hip-hop club on the east end of Seventh Avenue, is under investigation, with undercover agents accusing the bar of refilling liquor bottles.

If found guilty, the club can be fined, have its liquor license suspended or revoked.

Undercover agents with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco were in the bar this year and initiated the complaint at the end of August after they saw evidence of refilling, said Alexis Antonacci, media secretary with the state's Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

Refilling means liquor, possibly cheap liquor, is poured into bottles of expensive liquor and sold at the higher price.

Antonacci said agents are familiar with Club Fuel. The bar was found guilty of refilling four years ago. It was fined $1,500 and had its liquor license suspended for seven days, she said.

Agents visited the club this summer and "observed evidence of refilling," she said, although she didn't know what the evidence was or how it was observed.

"Some of our agents are so good, they can tell by the color," she said. Other times, they witness the actual refilling of bottles, she said. Another indication of refilling is if stored liquor bottles have broken seals, she said.

Undercover agents visited the club again three weeks ago and observed further evidence of refilling, she said.

Investigations into these matters can last weeks and even months, she said.

The popular hangout is no stranger to bad publicity.

This summer, Tampa police arrested two managers and a disc jockey on a charge of violating the city's noise ordinance.

Police conducted a noise-meter reading outside the club, at 1720 E. Seventh Ave., early one weekday morning and recorded a reading that was almost nine decibels higher than allowable under the city ordinance.

In June, Tampa Police Department Maj. Bob Guidara told the city council of the continuing problems with club patrons, particularly those from Club Fuel and the club located next door, Empire.

He said the problems typically begin after midnight with noise complaints, underage drinking, drug use and brawls.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or at kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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