Summerville VFW Post 3433 closes amid skyrocketing liquor liability insurance

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – Liquor liability insurance is having an impact on organizations. Summerville VFW had to close their doors on Saturday – they need your help to stay open.

“I was in the army. I went to Iraq twice out of Fort Stewart, Georgia. I was in from ’03 to 2012,” said TJ Allen, a member of VFW Post 3433.

Allen said the VFW is like a home for him and the many other veterans who frequent the post.

“I come here, and I hang with a group of people that there’s certain things we can talk about, and there are certain things we don’t have to talk about because of our shared experiences. Just kind of… it’s a comforting place that I don’t have to explain myself,” he said.

But that place of comfort is now being threatened.

“We had to shut down this past Saturday because our liquor liability didn’t get renewed. It went from $9,500 to $69,000,” explained Post Commander Robert Zdenek, VFW Post 3433. “We’re working on rates right now because of the new law in effect with liquor liability. We’re scrambling as we are a nonprofit. As it is, we have a hard time making it.”

They don’t have $69,000 per year just for insurance.

The post is holding a Tuesday night meeting where state lawmakers are expected to be in attendance. They hope to have state law changed next year to lower rates.

Right now, if someone drinks even one beer, and then they drink at other places that day, the original alcohol sales site can have 100% liability, instead of a percentage of liability. This caused rates to skyrocket.

The post is also planning a major fundraiser on October 19th to raise money. They hope to be back open by then.

“We do a lot of stuff for the public. We do have the VA home. We do a Thanksgiving dinner for local vets. We just do a lot of stuff for the community,” said Zdenek.

Allen is going to college right now on his VA benefits, but he is one of six people now out of a job at this VFW due to the shutdown. He works there several days per week as a bartender.

“This place does supplement my income. I’m a starving college student right now, so I definitely need the supplemental income, and the loss of the income from this place is hurting me greatly,” he said.

Tuesday night’s meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.