An Auburn bar is paying the penalty for selling two Coors Light beers to a minor more than a year ago.
Starting today, Friends bar at 6 Lexington Ave. is supposed to shut its doors in compliance with a New York State Liquor Authority order for a 10-day liquor license suspension. The bar will also have to pay $8,000 in fines due Nov. 18, the same day the establishment regains its license, which is in the name of Anthony Tardibone, Jr.
The SLA board members levied the penalty upon Friends in a meeting on Oct. 17 after sustaining the charge of selling alcohol to a minor, according to Bill Crowley, SLA communications director.
The charge stems from a July 17, 2006, incident in which a 19-year-old Auburn Police Department informant ordered two Coors Light beers from a bartender during a routine Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control compliance check, said Sgt. Joe DiVietro. The bartender did not ask for identification and handed the beers to the informant. APD later sent a referral form to the SLA.
This is not the first time Friends has been penalized for prohibited sales of alcohol. In 2003, they sold alcohol to a minor and voluntarily submitted to a 15-day liquor license suspension, said Crowley.
The bar was again caught selling alcohol to a minor in 2004. According to the liquor license citation, the bar's license was suspended for 30 days and a $2,000 fine was paid.
While ABC law mandates maximum penalties of $10,000 and/or license revocation, Crowley said, it does not indicate minimum penalties for repeat offenses.
“There isn't anything in the law that mandates what penalties the board has to impose,” said Crowley, “but the $8,000 penalty and 10-day suspension is a message to this bar. I don't think they want to be convicted again of serving to a minor.”
Crowley said another offense would likely carry even harsher penalties.
“I can't speak for the board and what they would decide,” he said, “but they would be facing revocation of their license.”
The SLA board, during its Oct. 17 meeting, revoked five alcoholic beverage licenses, canceled 14 licenses, fined 80 licensees $259,750 and claimed 16 bonds for $15,000 from establishments all across the state.
“Cutting corners by not complying with the ABC law is going to cost licensees more in the long run,” said Daniel B. Boyle, chairman of the board.
Tardibone could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239
The SLA board members levied the penalty upon Friends in a meeting on Oct. 17 after sustaining the charge of selling alcohol to a minor, according to Bill Crowley, SLA communications director.
The charge stems from a July 17, 2006, incident in which a 19-year-old Auburn Police Department informant ordered two Coors Light beers from a bartender during a routine Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control compliance check, said Sgt. Joe DiVietro. The bartender did not ask for identification and handed the beers to the informant. APD later sent a referral form to the SLA.
This is not the first time Friends has been penalized for prohibited sales of alcohol. In 2003, they sold alcohol to a minor and voluntarily submitted to a 15-day liquor license suspension, said Crowley.
The bar was again caught selling alcohol to a minor in 2004. According to the liquor license citation, the bar's license was suspended for 30 days and a $2,000 fine was paid.
While ABC law mandates maximum penalties of $10,000 and/or license revocation, Crowley said, it does not indicate minimum penalties for repeat offenses.
“There isn't anything in the law that mandates what penalties the board has to impose,” said Crowley, “but the $8,000 penalty and 10-day suspension is a message to this bar. I don't think they want to be convicted again of serving to a minor.”
Crowley said another offense would likely carry even harsher penalties.
“I can't speak for the board and what they would decide,” he said, “but they would be facing revocation of their license.”
The SLA board, during its Oct. 17 meeting, revoked five alcoholic beverage licenses, canceled 14 licenses, fined 80 licensees $259,750 and claimed 16 bonds for $15,000 from establishments all across the state.
“Cutting corners by not complying with the ABC law is going to cost licensees more in the long run,” said Daniel B. Boyle, chairman of the board.
Tardibone could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239
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