Greensboro ABC GM placed on administrative leave

The Greensboro Alcohol Beverage Control Board voted unanimously to place General Manager Katie Alley on paid administrative leave until Aug. 31 pending the outcome of an investigation by the state Alcohol Law Enforcement agency. According to the motion, the decision was requested by Alley

While the board deliberated in closed session for almost three and a half hours at the Greensboro ABC headquarters on Cedar Street, it was the Jeffrey P. Gray show. Gray, a Raleigh lawyer who represents Alley, entertained various members of the media with a show-and-tell and colorful commentary on promotional items such as mini bottles that are the subject of an unflattering report released by the state ABC Commission.









Gray was in the hallway waiting for an employee to unlock a storage room while the board deliberated over the fate of his client. Referencing the controversy over Alley keeping an electric guitar signed by Kid Rock, Gray bemoaned the music star's crossover from hip hop to country.

"Whenever he came over to country, it's a bad day for country," the lawyer quipped.

Gray said he received an inflatable George Dickle barrel, which is described as being "like a pool toy."

Gray said the ABC Commission report alleges that 10,000 mini-bottles of liquor are unaccounted for. The mini-bottles come attached to the larger bottle as a promotional item. Many of them fill taped-up cardboard boxes stacked in the storage room. Originally, Alley gave them to employees as Christmas gifts, but Gray said she stopped that practice when she learned it was against regulations.

"They're totally unregulated," he said. "These boxes are, regretfully, totally unaccounted for."

Initially, Alley had an employee remove the mini-bottles in the warehouse at the Cedar Street headquarters, but that arrangement invited abuse, as Gray explained.

"One of the employees in the warehouse was consuming [the mini-bottle] and throwing the empty bottles down the hill behind the warehouse," Gray said. "He was fire, of course. Then she started saying, 'Bring them to me.'"

He added with indignation: "She is getting criticized and vilified in the ABC report for trying to take control of the situation."

Gray said the ABC could not sell the mini-bottles. That's how the High Point ABC got in trouble some years ago. He expressed the opinion that it's appropriate for her to give them away "within discretion."

Alley has not stated affirmatively that she never took any mini-bottles home with her, but Gray averred that "there would truly be no harm in it."

The notion that Alley might be gaining some advantage by passing the mini-bottles along begs credulity, Gray suggested.

"Do you really think you could get rid of 10,000 of these to your friends and no one would know about it?" he asked. "It's not happening."

Gray reached in to a box and grabbed a bottle, sniffing dismissively.

"Original plum-cherry vodka," he said. "I think I'll pass on that."

Then another.

"Catdaddy North Carolina moonshine. Now, I bet that will make your head hurt."

The press people roamed down to the end of the hall and peaked in alley's office, which is appointed with a stylish marble-topped, mahogany bar stocked with various types of liquor. Gray gestured to a bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon at one end, which he valued at $80 and said was a gift to Alley.

Then, in another room, he pulled the infamous Kid Rock guitar out of its cardboard case. It's signed "Greensboro ABC" with what looks like Kid Rock's signature with a Sharpie. Quite a personal touch

Gray pointed towards the label on the cardboard box: "Made in Indonesia."

"Indonesia's known for its guitars," he said dryly.