Well, to start with, the ABC in CA. is as crooked as a corkscrew. I worked for a guy when I was in college that dealt with booze, bars, etc. He told me stories that I really wondered were true.

Fast forward 20 years when I was a silent partner in a gin mill. The ABC was worse than the gestapo. They would be 95% wrong in a case but if you didn't go their way, they would shut you down.

I knew an owner of a bar in northern CA who pointed out an ABC guy that was "undercover". He and his unkempt buddy, had sat in the bar, drinking Martini's for over 2 hours. (I had seen his buddy around town for 6 months previous) He packed away over 6 drinks, his friend did the same. A film showed it all. Well, the two guys left the bar and 5 minutes later the place was raided. The owner was charged with all kinds of stuff, one was for selling drugs. They shut him down for 3 months why he fought the BS through the courts. He prevailed but this is the kind of stuff they pull.

It was funny though. 6 months later I was working out of Brooklyn and my wife and I were in Portland, going out to dinner at a nice steak house. A group of men came in behind us and you could tell they were law enforcement. When they seated them they went by our table. Low and behold, here was the ABC's buddy, all clean shaven in a suit. I nodded to him and he nodded back. ABC in Oregon? No, DEA.

I know its not "Railroad" but interesting.

Nudge