The lack of an officially recognized manager, the failure to serve food after 10 p.m. (the bar is open until 2 a.m.), and excessive provision of alcohol to inebriated patrons all contributed to the fight, he said.
Griffen was the manager on duty the night of the fight, but because he is not "officially recognized" by the commission or by the state, the commission construed this as the "lack of a manager," according to Scali.
Scali also said that bar employees "allowed people to become intoxicated, which led to the fight."
But club employees don't think Spags, as it is affectionately known by some, has policies condusive to violence.
"[Serving food] has nothing to do with it," said one employee who asked not to be identified. "It doesn't He mentioned their dress code and said: "If people are intoxicated when they get here, we don't serve them," nothing also that drunk patrons are not served more alcohol. As a result of the findings, the club will be required to file a change of manager application. All of its servers will also have to complete a state-sponsored course on alcohol provision, and the club must join the Underage Drinking Task Force, a local committee devoted to preventing alcohol consumption by youth. Businesses found to have broken alcohol statutes are required to join the task force as part punishment and part "positive education." Griffen said the club plans to comply promptly with the ruling. He said he appreciated its remarks regarding food service, and he said that the club is considering serving appetizers until 11:30 p.m. Haynes and James J. Rafferty, the attorney for Cranston Inc., The Spaghetti Club's parent company, could not be reached for comment yesterday.