3 Liquor Stores Get Hands Slapped

Three longtime East Providence liquor stores were fined Tuesday night for selling alcohol to minors.

McGreen's Fine Wine & Spirits, 1086 Willett Ave.; Riverside Liquors, 225 Bullocks Point Ave. and Town Wine & Spirits, 179 Newport Ave., were fined $250 each for selling 6-packs of beer to teenagers back in February. That is the minimum fine.

The offenses were the first ever for the stores, said Sgt. John Andrews of the East Providence Police Department's community policing office. But he did not ask for leniency. He asked for the minimum fines, not just warnings, which, he said, simply have not worked in the past.

“My problem with liquor stores,” Sgt. Andrews said, “is that the kids get friendly with the clerks. Then a 6-pack becomes a case and then a case becomes a key party.”

All three owners of the stories apologized for breaking the law. Because it was the first time, they all said, they asked the City Council cut them a break. 

Ron McGreen of McGreen’s said: “There is no excuse for it. But it was not maliciously done. I take full responsibility. Two people lost their jobs over this.”

Elliott Fishbeain of Town Wine & Spirits said: “We take this seriously. We even close at 9 pm instead of 10 or 11 to avoid late-night situations.”

“All of our employees are certified,” said the owner of Riverside Liquors.

McGreen and Fishbein said they have actually been involved in a "Cops and Shops" program that works to prevent teens from buying alcohol.

Andrews explained how the stores were “stung” in February by 17, 18, and 19-year-olds sent into the businesses in pairs by the police department working with the East Providence Prevention Coalition to try to buy alcohol. In each case, they left the store with the beer and told a police officer waiting outside. The officer completed the bust.

The stores are among nine local businesses – including a total of five liquor stores -- that were “stung” in February and March. The remaining liquor stores to go before the City Council in two weeks in a “show-cause” hearing are repeat violators, Andrews said. They face possible $500 fines or worse.