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1) I am not pulling quotes from the far corners of the internet, I am a avid quote thrower, tweeter, blogger.

2) I am not a vandal, or violent, or opposed to alcohol where it is sold or used within the law.

For the specific law feel free to contact The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulations and specifically Commercial Licensing & Regulation they will be happy to give you that information.

The way I came to understand that there was such a law was via a state representative at my studio with her daughter. We were discussing our summer art program Empty Bowls Project. I was looking to donate our profit to our local food pantry TapIn. While on their facebook page to gather info for our ad campaign I saw the post about the free beer tasting. I mentioned to the representative that we would have to look for another pantry or organization to donate to as we run FAB and that would conflict with our message of substance free activities. She mentioned that she was surprised that the event would be allowed and cited the law regarding no free alcohol samplings/tastings out side of your established business. She suggested that I call the Warren Town Hall or Police Dept. to see how such an event was approved. I did call the Warren Police Dept. and they returned my call several days later. I was told that Brickyard had applied for a permit and was denied. The deputy said that at a later date another individual along with a civil liberties group and TapIn as a not for profit reapplied for the permit as a ticket sales event and the permit was put in another mans name with Brickyard as the provider. I spoke with another local representative and she directed me to the above mentioned Business Bureau as she said there had been multiple infractions involving this particular liquor store and that it would be helpful if I filed a formal complaint which I did.

My objective for contacting the paper was to share this information with the public and hopefully to raise awareness that this type of event is not within the letter of the law. Tastings actually cannot even be marketed on a sign in front of your established business. The only way to offer a tasting or free wine/beer is to simply have an in house unadvertised tasting.

I know all of this because I took the time to investigate. I do feel that the more readily alcohol is promoted, available and accepted as the norm the more young impressionable children may be influenced. It is no different than the tobacco industry and targeting the youth.

TapIn could have had a Dels tasting at the clam shack combined with Blount soup tastings, but that is really not what this was all about. It was quite simply a way for Brickyard to market his business under the false pretense of charity.