La Plata, MD – Whenever the Charles County Board of License Commissioners [Liquor Board] grants a license to a new business, they are quick to provide a stern warning. Most of the time it is Chair Pamela Smith telling them, “Don’t let us see you back in here on a violation.”
Kwang-Woo Choi, owner of BonChon Waldorf, learned Thursday, May 11 the cost of disobeying that edict–but he got lucky.
The liquor board only fined him $750. If it had been after July 1, the fine could have been much stiffer. One board member, in fact, called for a $2,000 fine.
“I guarantee we warned you about setting policies and procedures in place so you wouldn’t end up back here, and here you are back in six months,” Liquor Board Member Guy Black said. “You did not do what you should have done. All of these things you’re telling us about now, they’re great after the fact, but we can’t feel sorry for you now.”
The business only began serving alcohol in December of last year and already was called on the carpet for selling alcohol to an underage enforcement officer. Master Corporal Judith Thompson told the board that although the server asked for the customer’s license and even went to speak to a manager, she still served the officer an Angry Orchard Hard Cider.
Choi admitted that while management was certified, none of the staff was. That has since been remedied, he noted. “We didn’t put our server in a position to succeed,” he said. “We are taking steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
“If your management can’t handle the people and train them properly, you are going to be back here again,” Smith told him. “Focus on your job, in teaching your staff proper procedures. Be diligent. Pay attention.”
“It’s unfortunate you didn’t listen to us the first time,” Board Member Steve Howe pointed out. “I’m glad you’re making changes.”
“I’m suggesting a pretty hefty fine at this point,” Black offered. “Everything he’s talking about now is wonderful, but it’s after the fact. He was just here six months go.”
After some debate, and after secretary Lisa Bailey said the new higher fines don’t go into effect until the new fiscal year, the highest fine they can impose for a first offender is $750. They elected to prohibit the establishment from selling alcohol for one day with two days held in abeyance, and fined the server $75.
“You got lucky that our law doesn’t kick in until July 1,” Smith said. “You could have been charged a lot more.”
The business was told to turn in its liquor license May 16 and return it the following day when the fines must be paid.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com