R.I.P. Boston Nightclub Bottle Service

Ill have an opinion on this at some point.  But for now I weep for the North Shore kids who can no longer share a bottle of Grey Goose with 9 of their friends at $30 a piece.

Photo by File

The party is coming to an end for Grey Goose-swilling big shots as the city’s licensing czar says he’s banning “bottle service,” an expensive perk that draws high-rollers to Hub hotspots.

The service - a staple in exclusive nightclubs from Miami to Manhattan to Las Vegas - allows big spenders to have private VIP tables in exchange for purchasing a bottle of high-end booze, usually for $300 or more. Servers bring buckets of ice, tumblers and non-alcoholic mixers to make cocktails.

But Boston Licensing Board Chairman Daniel Pokaski is cracking down, saying the pricey service violates state and city alcohol laws.

“This is totally prohibited and it won’t be tolerated,” Pokaski said. “It’s not going to happen in Boston. It’s just wrong. It forces alcohol consumption.”

Licensing officials have cited two clubs - Mantra and Rumor - in recent days for alleged violations connected to bottle service. Pokaski said the practice violates so-called “happy hour” laws that ban serving more than two drinks at a time to a patron. A letter will be sent to club owners next week putting them on notice that the service is banned, he added.

But some club owners argue that bottle service is a legal and expected perk in any major city - one that makes owners money and keeps customers happy.

“From the customer’s standpoint, they get a table and they’re a big shot,” said one club manager who requested anonymity. “The city is cracking down on everything and making it impossible for businesses.”

Another longtime hospitality professional agreed that banning the VIP service would severely hurt Boston’s nightlife.

“It’s hundreds of thousands of dollars in business for nightclubs,” said the worker, who also requested anonymity. “Every other major city does bottle service and the city of Boston is cutting the legs off of businesses any way it can.”

But Pokaski argued that because bottles are so expensive, customers inevitably down all the booze. He said the practice conflicts with a citywide crackdown on trouble-plagued clubs and an effort to cut down on overserving barkeeps.

“We’re not New York and we’re not South Beach,” he said. “The city of Boston has a lot more to offer than just getting people inebriated. If all they can offer their clientele is just swilling down alcohol, then perhaps they shouldn’t be in the business.”

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1087696&format=text