Braintree's Dave & Buster's Receives Two-Day Liquor License Suspension

BRAINTREE, MA - South Shore Plaza's Dave & Buster's received a two-day liquor license suspension after the Board of License Commissioners found the establishment guilty of serving intoxicated patrons.

According to an article in The Patriot Ledger, two patrons were taken into protective custody during the March 5 incident when a Braintree police officer working a paid detail that evening witnessed one customer nearly fall over. A second person who also appeared to be intoxicated attempted to intervene. Their blood alcohol level content was above what is the legal presumption of intoxication for several hours after they were taken into custody.

The officer, Brendan McLaughlin, who also serves as the board's licensing agent, observed the people who appeared to be intoxicated after another patron alerted him to the situation.

The group's bar tab showed that 27 drinks were served in 90 minutes, including beer and hard liquor, according to the article.

Albert DeNapoli, a lawyer representing Dave & Buster's, said a "rogue bartender" who was fired after the incident was responsible for the violation.

At the hearing, Police Chief Mark Dubois, a member of the board, said that management should be held responsible rather than placing the blame on an individual.

"It's not just one person who dropped the ball," he said at the hearing.

The suspension will be in effect on May 28 and 29 unless it's appealed to the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.