Beer board says it can’t be sued for turning off honky-tonk taps

The Country Music capital’s board authority on beer is asking a federal court to toss out a lawsuit filed by several Nashville, Tennessee, honky-tonk bars over COVID-19 closures.

Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk & Steakhouse, The Local Spot, Harry O’s Steakhouse and Honky Tonk Central filed a complaint against the Metro Nashville Beer Board in May, claiming the board, as well as state and city officials, were unfairly requiring bars and restaurants to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and asked the court for compensation, according to The Tennessean newspaper. 

The beer board, which turned off the taps at Kid Rock’s bar and three others for failing to comply with COVID-19 orders, argued in its filing Tuesday, that it cannot be sued under its Metro Charter, the newspaper reported. The board also contended that the honky tonks couldn’t ask for legal relief since a federal judge denied their requests to pour booze and play that country music despite shutdown orders.

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