Raid on Naples scares frosh

Last Fri., Mar. 23 Yale students were enjoying a peaceful night at the often rowdy Naples when members of the Connecticut Liquor Control Commission stormed in and demanded identification from everyone consuming alcoholic beverages.

"It was really scary," one freshman said. "No one realized that they'd been watching the restaurant, and then they suddenly came in in their official uniforms."

"They started going around and asking everyone who was drinking for an ID saying that they were over 21," another student said.

Witnesses reported that the restaurant became chaotic once customers realized what was going on. "Everyone was trying to leave, but the officials were trying to get as many people into the back room as possible," one witness said. "It seemed as if they were trying to get as many violations against the restaurant as they could."

MELISSA GARREN/YH After a Fri., Mar. 23 bust, the liquor license of popular freshman sousing spot Naples may be in jeopardy.

Nevertheless, students were apparently not the target of the raid. One student said that once agents took down her name and photographed her with a polaroid camera, they told her that she was free to go. "I was scared, but the whole process only took about 10 minutes, and then I was out of there."

Another student said, "Once we got into the back room they kept assuring us that they weren't after us. They kept telling us that as long as we cooperated, didn't lie, and didn't show them any fake IDs, we'd be all right, and that Naples would pay the fine."

How much Naples will have to pay and exactly what charges the restaurant will face still remain uncertain, pending the release of a full report by the Connecticut State Liquor Authority. According to an administrator at the Commission, it is likely that Naples will be charged with several counts of underage drinking, in addition to a number of other offenses.

According to the Commission, Naples will certainly have to pay a fine and may face more serious consequences, including the possible revocation of its liquor license.

The restaurant also may be able to make some kind of settlement with the Commission, as it did in 1996, when it stopped serving pitchers of beer for a period of time and instituted waitress service in an effort to cut down on underage drinking.

Whether or not the restaurant will institute a similar plan in the wake of last Friday's raid is still unclear. Naples management declined to comment.

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