Pub Loses Liquor License for 3 Days

In a divided vote, selectmen decided tonight to suspend the liquor license of for three days after an employee sold alcohol to a minor.

A teenager was served alcohol without being asked for identification during a “sting’’ operation in December, Det. William Kuck said.

Police Chief Normand Crepeau recommended a 10-day suspension, with seven of those days held in abeyance. The additional seven days will go into effect immediately upon another violation.

Crepeau made the recommendation because this is the establishment’s third violation. Previous violations were recorded in 1994, 1995 and 2004.

Owner Ed Whiterell argued that the three-day suspension would seriously hurt his business, which he said was off about 25 percent in the tough economy.

He said the employee who served the teen was immediately fired and questioned why the owner and not the employee was being penalized.

He said he agreed with the chief about the importance of not serving underage patrons.  But he said he “can’t be there every second’’ to monitor every transaction.

Selectman Peter Adams, who voted against the three-day suspension along with John Dowling, said he didn’t usually disagree with the chief’s recommendations but said the length of time between violations should be taken into consideration.

Crepeau said he was not trying to put anyone out of business, but said the punishment needs to have teeth. “It has to sting, ‘’ he said. “That’s why it’s called a sting.’’

Public safety is the priority, he said.

He said that it is not easy to force a business to lose revenue. “What’s worse is knocking on someone’s door at three a.m. to tell them their child has died,’’ he said.