no written rules so what's to complain?

And let me remind you, Prism, the license to purchase alcohol has an id and procedure to get one. If they eventually banned alcohol sale, then they have to refund the "bond" the id holders made.

So not everything about alcohol is unwritten or no rule. Now, unless these restaurant Owners can produce a proof that they were "made to understand" that they are permitted to serve alcohol, then what are we talking about here?