WILKES-BARRE – Many bars and restaurants throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania have dress codes, but the rules posted inside one business in Luzerne County have gotten a lot of unexpected attention.
Ted Priestash said he snapped the picture of the dress code at Whiskey Business on Wood Street over the weekend when he stopped to have wings with friends, and posted it on a Facebook page this week.
"Some people seem to go there and like the place, other people feel that it's racist,” said Priestash.
The lengthy dress code bans baggy pants, camouflage clothes, jerseys, hoodies, lettered clothes and other attire at Whiskey Business.
The dress code also said “no out of state IDs”.
The owner of Whiskey Business told Newswatch 16 off camera that the dress code is not new and that the rules were posted to deter trouble, not to discriminate.
A former employee of Whiskey Business said he and his friends think the dress code is fair.
"I have friends that work at other bars. They have to deal with a lot of nonsense and stuff so, anywhere you go there`s a dress code pretty much,” said Ryan Garvey.
Other people who eat and drink out in Wilkes-Barre said the rules go a bit too far.
"They`re trying to keep the college kids out, they`re trying to keep the riffraff out, I can see that,” said Pamela Glaspie. “But that`s too much, that`s like a grocery list.”
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement officials said authorities do not have jurisdiction over bar owner’s dress codes and that it does not appear that the stiff rules violate any laws.