Kid Rock’s Nashville bar temporarily loses its beer license due to COVID-19 violations

Kid Rock’s popular Nashville bar has temporarily lost its beer license due to COVID-19 related safety violations. 

The Metropolitan Beer Permit Board issued Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk and Steakhouse a five-day suspension after it broke guidelines last weekend by serving customers at the bar, as reported by the Tennesssean on Monday.

According to local COVID-19 guidelines, patrons cannot be seated or served at a public bar during the current second phase of reopening guidelines 

Phase three will allow for half-capacity seating at the bar. 

‘They were in violation of two points of the order that states bar areas must remain closed to the public. No interaction with the public is allowed, and alcohol can only be served at tables and booths,’ explained inspector Melvin Brown in an interview with the Tennesssean.

Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk and Steakhouse co-owner Steve Smith stated that he was unhappy with the fine and called the Nashville government ‘communist’.   

‘The Nashville government is, like, communist. They’ve got us behind a Berlin Wall. We met with Mayor Cooper and the doctors weeks ago and explained how having bar service is safer than table service,’ Smith fumed.

‘They’re doing everything they can to put us out of business. The state of Tennessee is already in Phase four and they’re talking about holding us in Phase two. It’s against our constitutional rights.’ 

Officials were first made aware of the establishment’s violations when a photo depicting ‘crammed crowds’ began circulating on social media.

The director of the Metro Public Health Department, Dr. Michael Caldwell, paid a visit to ‘Kid Rock’s on Saturday night after receiving a complaint about the bar on Friday night’ and issued the citation on site. 

Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk and Steakhouse was one of 13 Nashville businesses cited ‘for being out of compliance with coronavirus public health orders.’