La Plata, MD – For Gray Brothers Market, located in Marbury, Jan. 9 was a busy day.
The hefty record-setting Powerball drawing was imminent, and customers were lined up at the Maryland Lottery terminal. There were also customers standing six deep to purchase alcohol.
Unfortunately for Gray Brothers, that was also when the Charles County Board of License Commissioners (Liquor Board) approached the business to conduct a compliance check.
The selling of beer to an underage officer resulted in a show cause appearance before the Liquor Board Thursday, March 10.
“I guess we’re here because we’re guilty,” Gray Brothers license holder Sondra Gray told the board. “The only thing I can really say is, it was the day that she was by herself. I had gone to church. It was extremely busy. There was no one else there to help her out.”
Cpl. Judith Thompson told the board it was the business’ second violation.
She said the officer entered the store at 6:37 p.m., went to a cooler and removed a 12 pack of Bud Light slim cans.
“The clerk rang up the sale and the officer exited the store,” Thompson stated. “The clerk never asked for an ID. They then met with me and talked with me about the description of the sale. I photographed the beer and then drove up to the store.
“It was very busy,” she said. “There were many people in there. It was the night of the Powerball drawing. I advised them of the underage sale. She called the manager.”
Thompson said she tried to recover the $20 bill the officer used in the transaction, but it was no longer in the register.
“Just as I was leaving, Ms. Gray arrived,” she added. “She was very concerned about what happened. I reminded her of the last violation.”
Gray explained that lottery traffic was extremely high.
“They were extremely busy,” she noted.
“I’m trying to do the best I can,” Gray said. “I do not want to sell to minors. That is not who we are. This is not what we’re about.”
“As a rule, I usually card everybody,” clerk Karen A. Carpenter said. “There were 25 people in the store.”
“They’re not going anywhere,” Liquor Board Chair Pamela Smith told her. “Being busy is not an excuse. It’s never an excuse. You have to take time to do your job properly. You have three days that were held in abeyance from the previous violation.
“We wouldn’t shut you down and put you out of business, but we can prohibit you from selling alcohol,” Smith told Gray.
“Competition is everywhere,” Gray said. “I sell hardware, mulch. I have to have everything to stay in business and make a living.”
“That’s good,” Smith countered. “The financial impact is not as great.”
Board Secretary Lisa Bailey said that while the Liquor Board has the authority to prohibit alcohol sales at a business, they cannot close a business totally.
“They will just have to turn in their license for the period they are suspended and cover over their coolers and alcohol so that the public knows they can not purchase those products,” she said.
The board voted to suspend the market’s liquor license for three days, from March 21-23 and to hold another three days in abeyance.
The market will have to pay a $2,000 fine and Carpenter was fined an additional $300.
“The three days will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so that would not be a great hardship for you,” Smith said. “On the weekends, you should be able to recover. On March 21, bring in your license and you can pick it up on the 24th. The additional three days will be held over your head for three years.
“Do additional training,” Smith suggested. “Do whatever you need to do to get everybody in line.”
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com