Aiken Bar Battles Brewing

Aiken County, SC—She’s the brewer in this pub…Glenda Brewer.

Glenda Brewer, Wagon Wheel Tavern: “We have customers that have been coming in here for 30 or 40 years, so it’s like a Cheers.“

Her bar, the Wagon Wheel, is open until however long the crowd is here.

Brewer says she understands what the county is looking to do…even though she doesn’t think her crowd is creating the problems.

Brewer: “I don’t think so. There again, it’s the people that run the bars, they can control that.“

Right now, bars and clubs in the county can close at their own discretion…

Deborah Kirkland, Hozes: “Sometimes later, sometimes earlier, it varies.“

Even though they are supposed to stop serving alcohol at 2, places like the Wagon Wheel and Hozes can still stay open for customers.

Kirkland: “And if they come in here from going to other bars and they’re intoxicated, we refuse to serve them, but we won’t let them drive either.“

Now the Sheriff is asking Aiken County Council members to look at shutting all bar doors across the county, private or public, at 2:00 a.m., and have everybody leave within 30 minutes of closing time…the same rules that both North Augusta and Aiken have now.

Sheriff Michael Hunt, Aiken County: “We’re just trying to become consistent with the other neighboring jurisdictions so that it’s fair and we can better monitor and keep track of it.“

The Sheriff says calls to bars keep law enforcement busy at clubs around the county…too busy to keep track of every bar that still serves alcohol after that 2 a.m. mark…and thinks consistently shutting every bar door at the same time, will help cut down on those calls.

Robin Deaner, Hozes: “We don’t need to be punished for things other people do.“

Sheriff Hunt: “I don’t think that we’re punishing anybody. I think that this ordinance would affect every club in the county jurisdiction.”

The Sheriff adds that he believes it’s better to shut down everybody at the same time, rather than target some bars by sending in undercover officers to make sure they’re not serving after 2 a.m.

The proposal goes before County Council, Tuesday night. Stay tuned to WJBF News Chanel 6 to let you know what happens.