Birmingham Council Denies 2 Liquor Licenses Over History, Neighborhood Concerns

One applicant had operated as a nonprofit for youth until it was discovered it had been selling alcohol illegally.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Birmingham City Council denied two liquor license applications on Tuesday, including one from a group that had previously surrendered its license for illegally selling alcohol despite claiming to be a nonprofit supporting local youth. The council also denied a license for a proposed hookah bar and lounge due to concerns from the surrounding neighborhood.

Why it matters

The denials highlight the city council's scrutiny of liquor license applications, particularly those with a history of issues, as well as its responsiveness to neighborhood concerns about the potential impacts of new alcohol-serving establishments.

The details

The council voted 8-1 to deny a Class 1 Lounge Retail Liquor license to Happy Hour Hangout 2, which was connected to a previous nonprofit that had its license revoked in 2025 for illegally selling alcohol. The council also unanimously denied a Class 1 Lounge Retail Liquor License for The Black Hole Hookah Bar and Lounge due to concerns from the surrounding residential neighborhood.

  • In 2025, the original Happy Hour Hangout nonprofit surrendered its business license after Birmingham police seized over 100 bottles of beer and several bottles of alcohol at the location.
  • On Tuesday, February 18, 2026, the Birmingham City Council voted on the two liquor license applications.

The players

Happy Hour Hangout 2

A group that applied for a Class 1 Lounge Retail Liquor license, connected to a previous nonprofit that had its license revoked in 2025 for illegally selling alcohol.

The Black Hole Hookah Bar and Lounge

A business that applied for a Class 1 Lounge Retail Liquor License, which was denied by the city council due to concerns from the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Birmingham City Council

The governing body that voted to deny the two liquor license applications.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The Birmingham City Council's denials of these liquor license applications demonstrate its commitment to carefully scrutinizing applicants' histories and responding to neighborhood concerns, in order to maintain public safety and quality of life in the city.