Houston sports bar can serve alcohol again with new safeguards in place

In an unprecedented move, the district attorney's office filed a civil nuisance suit against Bombshells at 12810 Gulf Freeway.

"We found the business has engaged in particularly egregious and repetitive behavior of serving alcohol to intoxicated people and to minors," said Harris County DA Kim Ogg.

Houston police say they've made at least 90 arrests at the Bombshells on the Gulf Freeway since it opened in 2014 and have traced many DWIs back to the business.

An agreement has been reached between the business and the DA's office that will allow the sports bar to start selling alcohol again on Friday.

"They are required to implement a new system where every patron there will be required to swipe their driver's license at the door and every time they purchase an alcoholic beverage," Vehicular Crimes Division Chief Sean Teare said.

To prevent someone from getting drunk on drinks purchased by others, an additional manager will be on duty at all times.

"One manager will be dedicated solely to checking that system and checking the tables of every patron there to ensure no one is becoming intoxicated at the establishment," Teare said.

Bombshells will also have two off-duty police officers on the premises from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. nightly.

The computerized verification system belongs to the business, not the county, so prosecutors say they will do an onsite inspection Thursday.

In a statement Bombshells says, "the new steps will enhance our already existing vigilant controls. We strenuously dispute the underlying basis of the temporary restraining order."

The business still faces a license cancellation hearing with the TABC next month.