Dancers advertised as the America’s Sexiest Male Revue slated for Friday at Detours, 760 E. Grand Ave., have to stick to a city ordinance concerning nudity.

An advertisement for Detours in Nightlife magazine promising America’s Sexiest Revue prompted a letter from Carbondale Mayor Neil Dillard’s office reminding Detours of the Liquor Code.

Janet Vaught, city clerk, said the code is quite specific.

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The code specifically prohibits any person, male or female, in the establishment to be topless or bottomless, she said.

Frank Arokiasamy, manager of Detours, said when they featured this type of entertainment before, they had the men cover their nipples with tape and wear bikini-style shorts.

They (the city) said that the dancers must wear a shirt, he said. I will talk to the dancers about this and come up with an alternative.

Arokiasamy said he will comply with the code, adding that the city has changed their interpretation of the law.

We have done this before and there were no problems, he said. I will follow the law, but I think they have changed their interpretation of it.

City Manager Jeff Doherty disagrees.

The city has been consistent in our stance, he said. If this has happened before, it had not come to our attention.

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When we become aware of an event that may violate the code we send out a reminder, he said. This is just to remind them of the law.

Vaught said a violation of the code has different penalties. In this case the performers can be fined $50 to $500 for violation of a city ordinance, along with the establishment. After the fine, the establishment must go before the Liquor Control Commission.

Before the commission, the owner of the establishment can receive one or a combination of penalties, she said. They are a 30-day suspension, a revocation (a withdrawal of a liquor license), a letter of reprimand or a fine of $250 to $2,500 for each violation, she said.

Arokiasamy said he will reconsider revues in the future. For now, he will tell the dancers what the code states and he will enforce it.

I do not know if the dancers will cancel, but I will enforce the code, he said. I just want what my patrons want, but I must follow the law also.