>Feb. 24, 2011
The Garrett County Board of License Commissioners/Liquor Control Board held violation hearings earlier this month for four retail establishments for the sale of alcohol to a minor. The hearings were a result of the businesses failing recent compliance checks conducted by underage cadets and troopers from the Maryland State Police.
The establishments that failed the compliance checks were El Canelo’s Restaurant, Oakland; Cindy’s Place, Finzel; Swanton Grocery, Gas & Liquor, Swanton; and Keyser’s Ridge Liquors, Grantsville.
In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board of License Commissioners of Garrett County, the fine and suspension guideline for a first offense is a $100 fine and a “letter of reprimand” in the licensee’s file; the second offense is a $500 fine and up to a 10-day suspension; the third offense is a $1,000 fine and up to a 30-day suspension; and a fourth offense is the maximum fine and up to a one-year suspension of the license.
Along with these fines and suspension, the board may require additional alcohol awareness training and review and evaluate internal procedures concerning sales to minors at the licensed establishment. If the licensed establishment goes two years with no additional sales to minors, the establishment’s record is expunged.
The licensees for the above-mentioned establishments were summoned before the board at the violation hearings. They received the following penalties: El Canelo’s Restaurant and Cindy’s Place both received a $100 fine, and a “letter of reprimand” was placed in their file; Swanton Grocery, Gas & Liquors and Keyser’s Ridge Liquors both received a $500 fine and a five-day suspension of their alcoholic beverage license.
