Legal Definitions - blind tiger

Blind tiger refers to a location where alcoholic beverages are sold in violation of the law.

This term describes any establishment or place, regardless of its outward appearance, that engages in the illegal sale of liquor.

• Example 1: In a county where the sale of alcohol is entirely prohibited ("dry county"), a seemingly ordinary barber shop secretly offers beer and spirits to its patrons in a back room. Customers pay a premium for their haircut, which implicitly includes the cost of the drinks.

  Explanation: The barber shop's back room operates as a blind tiger because it is a place where alcoholic beverages are being sold illegally, as the county's laws forbid such sales.

• Example 2: A private social club, without any state-issued liquor license, regularly hosts events where members can purchase cocktails and wine. The club charges a membership fee and then sells drinks at a bar within its premises.

  Explanation: This private social club functions as a blind tiger because it is selling alcoholic beverages without the required legal permits and licenses, making the sales unlawful.

• Example 3: A restaurant that only has a license to sell beer and wine begins to secretly offer hard liquor, such as whiskey and vodka, to its regular customers after its official closing hours. These transactions are conducted discreetly and paid for in cash.

  Explanation: The restaurant, during these after-hours operations, acts as a blind tiger because it is selling types of alcohol (hard liquor) for which it does not possess a legal license, and potentially outside legal operating hours, thus violating liquor laws.