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Party's over for after-hours revelers
Jimmie's fined, liquor sales are suspended
Friday, June 12, 2009
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It was the dead of night and a good two hours after closing time, but the steady flow of cars pulling up to Jimmie's Liquors in Hughesville showed that things were far from over, a sheriff's officer said at the Thursday liquor board meeting.
In April, police discovered that the business had been hosting private parties during the dead of night for construction workers who had just gotten off their shifts. The workers' company would foot the bill for the gatherings.
However, the seemingly advantageous business arrangement resulted in trouble for Jimmie's during the Charles County Board of License Commissioners' meeting, where the business was fined for staying open after hours.
"No more parties," said Jack Cheseldine, chairman of the county liquor board, after the body imposed a $750 fine on the business and a three-day suspension of its liquor license.
Officer J. Harman said she visited the bar April 18 after getting tips that the establishment was staying open past 2 a.m. She arrived at about 4:40 a.m. and found that the door was locked, but inside, people were playing pool and drinking at the bar.
"If you didn't know it was illegal, why did you lock the door?" asked board member Wayne Magoon.
Business owner Kirit Patel said he thought the law banned him from leaving Jimmie's open to the public after 2 a.m., but didn't know the rule covered private parties.
Two more businesses appeared before the board Thursday claiming they misunderstood the liquor laws.
Owners of El Dorado Restaurant in La Plata admitted to buying 187 beers from a retailer rather than a wholesaler. Attorney John Mudd represented them at the meeting and said the business's previous attorney hadn't properly schooled the owners on the liquor laws.
License holders Errol Augustus and Simon Gutierrez said they trusted a worker with purchasing and didn't realize it was illegal to buy beer from a retailer.
"It's quite unfortunate that your representative did not educate you properly. However, it is your responsibility to know what the laws are," said board member William Young Jr.
The board fined El Dorado $500 and ordered it to suspend liquor sales for two days next week.
Illicit wine rather than beer was the problem at the Three Brothers Italian Restaurant in La Plata. Harman found that the business had purchased several bottles at a liquor store in Calvert County instead of at a wholesaler. Earl Harris, a license holder, also said he didn't understand the rules for buying alcohol.
"There's no gray area. There's no blue area. There's no orange area. All alcohol has to come from a distributor," said board member Pamela Smith.
Three Brothers was fined $500. Because the business came before the board earlier this year for selling alcohol to a minor, its liquor license was suspended for four days.
The board also fined three businesses on Thursday for selling beer to minors.
Szechuan Garden Restaurant in Waldorf received a $500 fine and was order to close liquor sales for two days. The server was fined $150. The board issued a $500 fine and one-day license suspension for WOW Cafe and Wingery in Waldorf and charged the server $150. Thai Flavor Restaurant in Waldorf was fined $500 and ordered to stop selling alcohol for three days next week. The server was also fined $150.
