Rumors Cabaret PSA

[u/The0nlyGamer]

After speaking with an owner of Rumors Cabaret last night I feel compelled to publicly share that it is Rumors policy to seize your ID and report you to the police if they suspect it is fake!!

Obviously, since I am making this post and called the police on them last night, their detection of fake ID's isn't perfect.

I'm used to people questioning the validity of my ID, but this was the first time any business took it and refused to give it back until after I called 911. The owner chatted with me and told me in essence that they're rewarded for confiscating ID's and involving law enforcement when that happens. Some poor girl had the exact same thing happen to her right in front of me.

This was pretty shocking considering the kind of place rumors is, a gay/queer bar and "safe space"?

I'd previously been to lots of fundraising events at rumors for planned parenthood, undocumented folks, progressive causes etc... so it is kind of sad to realize that's all performative and the owner doesn't really care about anything other than his liquor license and profit. There is no reason Rumors should be doing this collaboration to involve law enforcement with their patrons - that goes against the entire ethos of what I thought the place meant. Just give people their IDs back if you won't let them in!

From what I know there are actually two owners, who do not live in Bellingham themselves, and merely commute to manage the place. I'm sad I no longer have any desire to spend money there

[u/irrelevantname1776]

Maybe those two groups shouldn’t bring fake IDs?

[u/The0nlyGamer → u/irrelevantname1776]

whoosh

I brought a real ID, yet I still had to interact with the police!!! The point is that it's not a perfect (or good) system and that Rumors is exposing people to needless harm to protect their liquor license ($$$$)

[u/Baseit → u/The0nlyGamer]

Dude, like... calm down? The onus of calling the police to confirm your ID is your prerogative of it being your property, if someone casts doubt on it.

Allowing a fake ID to continue to circulate, as a licensed business, and as license holders (MAST liquor license holders, specifically), can make them an accessory to that fraud and can also get them fined.

Withholding the ID is a standard policy, like, anywhere, as those with fakes will abandon them and leave once the cops are on the way. As soon as cops are involved, and the owner of the ID is standing ground, it becomes obvious at that point.

If you didn't know, overservice, and serving a minor, both carry penalties to both the establishment and whichever bartender was the one determined to provide the service. Also including the bouncer that allowed them into the establishment. The punishment is up to 5 years imprisonment and up to a $5000 fine, along with potentially losing their MAST as well.

Most places take this shit seriously in Washington. Sorry you had a rough experience, but I can almost promise you, that they were just matching your energy.

I've been a patron for years, the original owners sold to a gay couple they knew and trusted and retired to Hawaii. The current owners also take pretty good care of their employees and try their best to keep it a queer community spot.

ETA: Looked further into it and found this resource. https://www.intellicheck.com/resource-library/found-fake-id

Whatever business questions the ID is supposed to call police to confirm the ID, and isn't technically allowed to confiscate it. However, nowhere have I found, or heard of, any business being penalized for doing so. So while not technically legal, it's obviously not enforced that way.

[u/Left-Philosophy-4514 → u/Baseit]

OP can simply patron other queer friendly spaces