Is this the only thing unfair about a liquor license ? If not then I'll bet their isn't much they can do. For example, are there other laws that result in loss of license for bars and only fines for other busineses.
As I write and think about it, there is a precedent for other licenses. I hold a state license as a CPA amoung other licenses, in my business. If I violate certain laws I can lose my license to practice as a CPA as well as receive a fine. If I lose my license there are some things I can no longer do. I can still do acounting but I cannot issue opinions on financial statements and I cannot represent clients in the IRS.
So, now that I think of it, its logical and consistent that a licensee can lose his license prviledges if he breaks certain laws.
In some states, parents who are behind in their child support can lose their licenses for an act that even has no relationship to their business conduct.
The license is giving someone a special priviledge and special priviledges are not the same as rights.
Not that I can think of off the top of my head.
Using your CPA analogy: A close friend of mine is a CPA and she and her partners own the buidling housing their office. She's a smoker and the smoking ban covers her business as well if the smoke police catch her smoking in her office she will only be subjected to the fine, increasingly higher for each subsequent violation but no sanction against her CPA license.
However if her cousin, who owns a bar is caught smoking in the back office of her building, after a third offense will be subjected to hearing before the ABC with the possibility of losing that license.
Same offense, vastly different sanctions.
I totally understand what you are saying about licenses being priveleges, but unlike other laws, such as the one regarding your CPA license they are license specific.