Alcohol Board Fines Mood Lounge, Suspends License for 10 Days

In a decision issued on September 19, 2012, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board fined Mood Lounge $7,000 and suspsended its liquor license for 10 days.  The liquor license suspension will begin on October 26 and last through November 4, 2012.  Technically, the Board also suspended Mood's license for an additional 10 days, but those additional 10 days will be waived if Mood does not commit any additional violations within one year after the date of the Board's order.

 

Mood Lounge is located at 1318 9th Street, NW, and has been the subject of a number of neighborhood complaints.  The fines and suspension were based on the following charges:

• Mood Lounge attempted to interfere with an investigation of the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).  This charge stemmed from an altercation at Mood Lounge that occurred on December 30, 2011, resulting in the stabbing of two individuals.  The Board found that a claim made by the owner of Mood Lounge, Abeba Beyane, "that nothing happened inside the establishment is untrue, and a deliberate attempt to mislead ABRA investigators...."
• Mood Lounge violated its security plan by failing to operate a security camera with the capability to save video footage onto a computer disk.
• Mood Lounge violated its voluntary agreement by playing excessively loud music that could be heard in nearby residences and not curing these violations within 30 days after receiving complaints.

The Board dismissed a charge that Mood Lougne permitted the use of a controlled substance (marijuana) in its establishment, because the District government failed to show that Mood Louge "knowingly permitted" the use of marijuana.

The Board findings are described in more detail in the Board's order, which is after the jump.

Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Order, Mood Lounge, September 19, 2012
The ABC Board Order may be viewed below or by clicking here.