A registered tax-exempt non-profit charitable organization in Ensley that says its mission is to mentor youth, but that Birmingham police say was caught selling alcohol without a liquor license, has surrendered its business license.

The Happy Hour Hangout, a registered 501c3 non-profit corporation at 2417 Avenue C in Ensley, was the subject of a recent Birmingham City Council public safety committee meeting.

“You’re operating out of the confinement of what you say your mission statement is,” said City Council member LaTonya Tate, chair of the public safety committee. “You stated to this body that you have your 501c3 as a safe haven to mentor youth (and) give out food donations.”

Tate questioned the organization’s stated mission. “What’s being presented to us here today shows no indication that you guys are doing that,” she said.

Tate noted during the Tuesday, July 22, meeting that the Happy Hour Hangout agreed to surrender its business license.

“The owners of that business surrendered their business license,” Council President Darrell O’Quinn said after the meeting. “That negated the need for a public hearing.”

That came after scheduled public hearings for June 8 and July 8, in which Happy Hour Hangout would have had a chance to explain its actions, had been postponed at their attorney’s request. No representatives were present to answer questions.

Birmingham Police Sgt. Kenneth Knight told the public safety committee in May that an undercover police officer purchased a bottle of beer on Feb. 18, despite the business not having a license to sell alcohol.

The police then executed a search warrant and seized 12 bottles of liquor and about 300 bottles of beer, Knight said.

“They’re no longer a business in the City of Birmingham,” O’Quinn said. “They can’t operate legally. Our business compliance unit will continue to monitor that situation.”