Free Beer and Fierce Freedom: An Idaho Bar Owner Fights Back Against a Head-Scratching New Law

There's a bit of a brouhaha brewing in Twin Falls, Idaho, and it involves free beer – yes, you heard that right, free beer. But it's not just a generous gesture; it's a defiant act, a clear challenge to a new state law that one local bar owner sees as a direct hit on his livelihood. You've got to appreciate the gumption, don't you?

Casey Jones, the man behind Shotz Bar & Grill, is pretty fed up. He's decided to give away beer to his patrons, a bold move aimed squarely at House Bill 664. This isn't just about a couple of bucks; it's about a principle, about what he feels is a truly unfair piece of legislation coming straight from Boise.

So, what's got everyone so riled up? Well, the new law, which quietly went into effect, says that any establishment with an "on-premise" liquor license – think your typical bar or restaurant where you can sit down and enjoy a drink – can no longer sell alcohol for "off-premise" consumption, like a six-pack to go, between the hours of 2 AM and 7 AM. It seems simple enough on the surface, but for businesses like Shotz, it throws a serious wrench into their operations. Many bars, especially in smaller towns, rely on that dual income stream.

Jones, bless his heart, told The Express he feels like his business, and others like it, are being unfairly targeted. "It's almost like they're trying to push us into a corner, forcing us to choose," he mused, explaining the dilemma. Either he stops selling those convenient take-out options in the wee hours, or he stops serving drinks late into the night. For a place like Shotz, which operates from 9 AM to 2 AM daily and then reopens for package sales at 7 AM, it’s a direct hit on their established business model. He estimates a pretty significant financial blow, somewhere in the ballpark of $10,000 to $15,000 a month in lost off-premise sales. That's not pocket change, folks; that's a substantial chunk of change for a local business.

Now, offering free beer? That's not just a marketing gimmick. Jones views it as an act of civil disobedience, a way to shine a spotlight on what he believes is an overreaching government regulation. He's hoping to generate enough noise, enough conversation, that maybe, just maybe, lawmakers will reconsider. He plans to keep the free taps flowing until someone tells him to stop – perhaps even the state's Alcohol Beverage Control – or until the law itself is re-evaluated. It's a defiant stand, pure and simple.

While some states certainly have stricter liquor laws, Idaho's latest move has certainly stirred the pot for certain businesses. It’s a classic small business versus bureaucracy tale, and for now, Casey Jones and Shotz Bar & Grill are certainly making their voices, and their free beer, heard. It's a real-life David and Goliath, and everyone's watching to see how this one plays out.