FIVE Harford County businesses charged with selling alcohol to minors

[Spot72]

Five Harford County establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages failed the latest compliance test by the county liquor control board by selling to a minor working undercover with liquor board inspectors and the county sheriff's office, liquor board officials said.

In all, 27 licensed businesses were checked Monday, with 22 not selling to the minor, the liquor board said in a news release issued Thursday.

Of the five locations that sold alcohol to the 19-year-old employee of the liquor board's undercover program, none of them requested identification from the board's underage purchaser, the liquor board said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,3950451.story




This is sad and disturbing.

[The Eternal White Belt]

Interesting that one of the locations was a VFW.

[demopublican]

Disturbing?
Yeah. I guess it would be better if the laws were enforced better.
But I am more pleased that the county was testing the licensee owners.
How do the ratio of licenses to inspections to violations compare between all of our local municipalities? Who does the most enforcement?

[Ravens2006]

This happens all the time. The Aegis is one of the few media outlets that actually reports it for the public to know.

[Spot72]

This happens all the time. The Aegis is one of the few media outlets that actually reports it for the public to know.

Shame that this occurs often, really is.
Good to see that you aware, a good amount of news go under-reported by certain media outlets in the area. The media outlets reach to these areas every day with broadcasts but will rarely dedicate consistent segments to certain areas of the state. The viewer is the only one being cheated.

[ichy]

Disturbing?
Yeah. I guess it would be better if the laws were enforced better.

It would be even better if we didn't have idiotic laws that make it illegal for 19-year olds to buy alcohol.

[Spot72]

There was a time where ethics and honor were great attributes for a business like this to have.

[The Eternal White Belt]

I used to know of a particular liquor store that had off-duty cops as security guards and would never ask for ID.

[OldBay]

I don't know the details in this case, but it may not be as clear-cut as assumed. Typically, these stings use an undercover underage person who looks much older than his actual age. So, I can see this from both sides.

In "the old days", it was common for some rogue police to shake down liquor stores for free booze. I worked at a liquor store for 4 years in college and remember a city officer pulling out a flask and shaking it in my face. The first time, I didn't know what to make of it. I learned quickly that he expected his flask to be filled or he stated that he would ID every customer who left the store. That's the only time I used the silent alarm. The manager gave him what he wanted because it would be cheaper in the long run than losing customers due to harassment.

[rudy_d]

It would be even better if we didn't have idiotic laws that make it illegal for 19-year olds to buy alcohol.

That was my first thought, too. I feel sorry for the business owners, who most likely didn't intend to serve to an underage patron. The police should be focusing on property and violent crimes.

[BlandFood]

It would be even better if we didn't have idiotic laws that make it illegal for 19-year olds to buy alcohol.

Like for a couple years in the early 70's? 18 year olds were being scrapped off the street nightly.

[bmore_ken]

It would be even better if we didn't have idiotic laws that make it illegal for 19-year olds to buy alcohol.

I agree. You can vote to choose the leader of the free world and you can die for the country but can't have a effin beer. Ridiculous

[Omaha Beach]

Id like to see a picture of the 19 year old undercover before i would be too quick to condem the establishments. One of them, a VFW, i suppose is hardly a hotspot for criminal activity. Guy probably looks, 30.

[Fang]

It would be even better if we didn't have idiotic laws that make it illegal for 19-year olds to buy alcohol.

It would even be better if people like yourself were made to pass a "stupid test" before being allowed to purchase.

[demopublican]

Great thread

[RalR]

The Harford County Liquor Control Board accepted fines last week from three restaurants that sold alcohol to minors and approved the closure of an Aberdeen hotel's restaurant and nightclub.

Three eateries paid fines for liquor violations totaling $2,500 to the board, as approved by the board's at its most recent meeting in Bel Air on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Open Door Cafe in Bel Air paid a $1,000 fine, Madonna Seafood Restaurant paid $500 and Pat's Pizzeria in Edgewood paid $1,000.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/...0,735750.story