SNOW HILL — The Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) showed leniency this month to first-time and infrequent violators of liquor laws. However, two properties that had multiple violations and other troubling patterns were given a combined 120 days of license suspension and $5,500 in fines between the two.
Hit hardest by the BLC was the 19th Hole Bar and Grille and Marlin Market, located at 9636 Stephen Decatur Highway, Ocean City. Accumulating four sale-to-minor violations since taking over the license in 2007, 19th Hole owner William Cook did not deny the recent violation took place in June but argued to the board that, while he made a mistake, it was based around compassion, not irresponsibility.
“My being here today was simply a lack of good judgment,” Cook read from a prepared statement.
With the violation in question, Cook explained that the sale was made by the same clerk that had caused a similar violation last year at 19th Hole. The clerk was fired in 2013, fell on hard times, according to Cook, and was eventually re-hired for a second chance. Cook admitted that was an error.
As for the first two of the store’s four sale violations, both occurring in 2012, Cook also attributed those to clerks making mistakes despite management’s best efforts.
“I do care. We’ve put into place everything since 2007, ID check, ID card, everything that everyone would need in order to verify, not just look at the license,” Cook said.
The board levied a 60-day suspension and $4,000 fine against 19th Hole, one of the harshest penalties short of terminating a liquor license that the BLC will typically administer. The suspension is now in effect.
Also receiving a 60-day suspension, though a lesser, $1,500 fine, was Six 12 Beer and Wine, 1201 Atlantic Avenue Unit 104, Ocean City. This was only the store’s second violation for sale to a minor. However, unlike 19th Hole, the board didn’t believe that Six 12 owner Leo Cipolloni was doing his due diligence in providing verification equipment and training.
Cipolloni had not been aware that one of his clerks had even received a violation back in June as the employee had quit the same day. Cipolloni did eventually receive notification by mail and argued to the BLC that there wasn’t much he could do to prevent the miscreant or empty-headed actions of employees. For its part, the board had concerns that Cipolloni did not have enough verification equipment, was not properly training his employees and did not have anyone with TAM certification on premise for hours at a time.
Cipolloni also admitted to occasionally using unauthorized minors as improvised sale checkers for his clerks. The minors would be instructed to enter the store and attempt to purchase alcohol. While it’s the same basic practice used by police agencies, the BLC did not look favorably on Cipolloni’s homemade version.
“Having a liquor license is serious business in this county and we don’t feel that you’re taking it very seriously,” said BLC member Charles Nichols after the suspension was passed out. “Get a handle on your training, get a handle on your employees. It’s certainly not your right to have a liquor license.”
The other five sale-to-minor violation cases received much lighter treatment, mainly due to most being first offenses. The exception was Seaside Deli Beer and Wine, 7207 Coastal Highway Ocean City, which was on its third violation but spread out over 30 years. The board imparted a $250 fine.