During their Thursday, Sept. 27 meeting, the Calvert County Liquor Board voted unanimously to consider possible revisions to the current procedures for obtaining and gaining approval for a one-day liquor license. Such permits are usually granted to organizations and entities holding special events, such as fundraisers.
Calvert County Liquor Board Chairman Alonzo Barber said he would like to see a “standard formality” established.
The board, which met in closed session with their attorney regarding possible modifications to the one-day license procedure, will be seeking public comment on any proposed changes.
Under the local liquor board’s current regulations temporary licenses must be applied for at least seven days prior to the date of the event. Only associations or corporations that are organized to operate exclusively for educational social service, fraternal, patriotic, political or athletic purposes and not for personal profit are eligible for special or temporary licenses. No entity is allowed more than six special and temporary licenses in a calendar year.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to fine the owner of Mom and Pop’s Liquors on Broomes Island Road and to suspend the business’s liquor license for three days due to a minor, who was temporarily working at the store, inadvertently selling alcohol to an adult. The panel decided to hold all punitive actions in abeyance for six months as long as there are no subsequent violations. Speaking on behalf of the store’s owner, attorney Lawrence Cumberland said his client was “embarrassed that it happened. It’s never happened there before.”
“This isn’t a sale to a minor,” said Board Member Beth Swoap, in acknowledging that the inadvertent transaction was prompted by the underage clerk’s desire to help the store owner out.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
