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Candidate Comparison – The Runoffs
With the runoff election coming up, we wanted to get to know some of the candidates a bit better. We asked questions and SOME responded.
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South Carolina Policy Council announces 2025 Citizen Leadership Awards
SCVC co-founders Asheton Reid and Sheila Merck are honored to be among this year’s distinguished recipients.
South Carolina lawmakers reach liquor liability compromise
COLUMBIA, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – South Carolina lawmakers have a reached a compromise that targets the rising rates of liquor liability insurance.
The goal is to keep businesses from having to close because they can’t afford the cost.
A measure passed on Wednesday addresses the controversial “joint and several” component which held parties fully responsible for damages caused by an alcoholic-related tragedy. The new law says businesses must be at least 50 percent responsible.
“Gone will be the days when you hear the stories of restaurants being responsible for one percent of what caused the accident but where you’re responsible for all the damages, so that’s a big step in the right direction,” said Sen. Jason Elliot.
Businesses will still have to carry million dollar policies but the compromise gives them breaks for having practices in place that aim at mitigating harm like closing by midnight, having forensic ID scanners mandatory training for bartenders and servers and by serving 40 percent more in food.
“I think that helps some places,” said Chris Smith, SC Bar and Tavern Association. “That will ultimately, you know, depending on your situation, you could be down to $350 thousand as your overall insurance cap.”
The compromise also allows juries to make others financially responsible for alcohol-related tragedies, like drunk drivers, by adding them to a verdict form.
The Bar and Tavern Association said they are not done pushing for change. They also want the penalties to go up for bad actors, meaning the businesses that have actually been part of the problem.
By Myra Ruiz. Published: May. 8, 2025 at 8:45 AM EDT
Negotiations stall on SC liquor liability amid tort reform spat. The clock is ticking.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Post and Courier) – Negotiations between Statehouse leaders have stalled on a sweeping litigation package backed by Senate Republicans, raising the stakes that a much-desired deal on liquor liability insurance reform could fail to pass this session despite significant pressure from the food and beverage industry.
*Click here for the full article written by Nick Reynolds for Post and Courier.
Published: April 16, 2025. Photo: File/Jeffrey Collins/AP
IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TRIBBLE’S PLEASE READ…
Greetings to all our bar and music family.
As many of you know, the SC Venue Crisis has been an issue for a while now. Sheila, Asheton, and I began sounding the alarm two years ago to let people know this was going to become something much, much larger if action wasn’t taken. You have seen a slew of closings and scaling back in so many service industry-related businesses state-wide, and it has, in fact, been a real crisis in this state.
While Betty and I have managed to find insurance to get us by, we are reaching the point where it will no longer be possible or worth continuing since we will be working for free. We are telling you all now because we refuse to be a business that waits until the last day to tell the customers and employees. You’ve made this business what it was, and we thank you. We want you to have every opportunity possible to enjoy Tribble’s while you can. Early June will be the looming date.
This year, we opened The Holy Roller Smoke Shop as a plan for the future, as we knew our state’s politics would lead to this result sooner or later. On top of that, we have been doing this for around a decade now, contemplating a change and a new chapter. We didn’t know how to start or if we could because of Tribble’s rich, vibrant culture, its crazy music, and its bar family. The lack of support from our politicians will, of course, hurt all the charity work we have accomplished throughout the years with our platform and sounding board and your support.
We will be sad to see our beautiful community torn apart by the lack of action of our elected officials to save an industry that is so important to our state. We will, however, use this as a nudge to take the step into our next chapter in life. That means more time for animal rescue, getting a normal sleep schedule, setting the smoke shop up and running, and, in general, taking care of things that we have let slide due to other things taking priority.
I tell you this to put a positive perspective on a gloomy announcement. We will still be involved in some capacity in the local music scene and have a few other projects we are already working on including something with Sheila, Asheton, and myself…. so keep your eyes peeled.
We want you to enjoy Tribble’s to the fullest until the last day. So please come out and support all you can until the end. We could use your support as we prepare for the possibility of this new reality. Ourselves and our staff need it!
There will be some shows popping up as I’m sure many will want to play the last and final concerts. Please understand if you reach out and I don’t respond right away, I’m going to be extremely busy with a lot of decisions and actions that need to be taken.
Thank you all for all the years and all the love. We will update you more as time goes on.
Thank you for everything, we look forward to spending valued time together the next coming weeks.
– Tribble, Betty, and the best bar staff I could ask for.
Clock ticking for liquor liability legislation as South Carolina bars struggle
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WYFF) – Business owners say the future of local bars and restaurants across South Carolina hangs in the balance as lawmakers race against the clock to address liquor liability insurance legislation. Business owners and advocates have raised alarm over rising insurance costs, which they say has forced closures and left many struggling to stay afloat.
Senate Bill 244 aims to make sweeping changes to liability coverage requirements. South Carolina State Senator Rex Rice emphasized the need for timely action, saying, “I think we all understand that we need to go home this year with something passed out.”
Kynn Tribble, the owner of Tribble’s Bar and Grille, has been at the forefront of the issue for years. Tribble revealed that his bar’s insurer is pulling out of the state, leaving him scrambling for alternatives.
“The company we had for two years is leaving the state … we’re kind of facing the reality that the price is probably going to be more than we’re willing to pay out,” he said.
*Click here for the full story and video provided by WYFF.
By Peyton Furtado Published: April 15, 2025.
Rising insurance costs threaten SC restaurants as industry advocates for reform
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WYFF) – Carl Sobocinski, the owner of table 301 hospitality says his liquor liability insurance premiums are increasing year over year.
“Ours has doubled over the last two years. So it’s, it’s pretty significant,” he says, “It’s a hard enough business already. Over the last year, you’ve seen countless restaurants close and list that as the factor that that shut them down.”
He’s part of a newly formed group of hospitality operators from across the state, the Responsible Hospitality Reform Alliance, pushing lawmakers to approve two pieces of liquor liability legislation.“It’s the single largest private sector employer in the state, hospitality and tourism. It’s a driver of the economy in the state,” Sobocinski says, “this is important legislation that our industry needs.”
“If they don’t do anything by May 8th and they go home, and we have to wait until next January. It’s going to be devastating all around the state,” Sobocinsky says.
*Click here for the full article and video provided by WYFF.
By Nate Stanley Published: April 8, 2025.
Watch the video here. Skip to 16:53 for info on Massey, tort reform, and Boss Hogg (A.K.A Billy Garrett).
Read About SC’s Lawsuit Climate in an article from SC Chamber.
SC House Approves Liquor Liability Bill But Broader Tort Reform May Be Dead – InsuranceJournal.com
The liquor liability bill, House Bill 3497, would:
- Allow captive insurance companies to apply to provide liquor liability insurance – without a limit on coverage. However, the captive “may not issue eroding or declining insurance coverage whereby the occurrence or aggregate limits are reduced by costs or expenses arising from the insurance company’s duty to defend a claim,” the bill notes.
- Create a risk-mitigation program. Bars could reduce the current $1 million in liquor liability coverage requirement by $100,000 if the establishment stops serving at midnight. The establishment would be able to lower the coverage limit further if it refrains from selling alcohol earlier in the evening. The places also would have to participate in alcohol-server training programs and could reduce coverage if less than 40% of their total sales are from alcohol.
- Revise a section of state law that allows juries to saddle the deepest-pocket food and beverage businesses with most of the damages after an accident. Repealing the so-called “joint-and-several” liability clause has been a top priority for businesses and insurance interests in the state.
- Raise penalties for people convicted of driving under the influence.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where its future is cloudy.
By Insurance Journal Staff Reports | March 7, 2025
SC House unanimously passes liquor liability reform
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – Bars and restaurants across South Carolina have been struggling with skyrocketing insurance costs for years, forcing many of them to close because they can’t afford to stay open.
State lawmakers took a big step to try to tackle it Thursday, while another proposed solution hit a major roadblock hours later at the State House.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that would reform South Carolina’s liquor liability law, an issue for which bars and restaurants have been begging for relief for more than a year now.
*Click the link for the full article and video provided by WCSC and LIVE5 News.
By Patrick Phillips and Mary Green Published: Mar. 6, 2025 at 3:44 PM EST|Updated: Mar. 7, 2025 at 4:19 AM EST
SC Venue Crisis 