On Friday, May 3, 2013 agents from the Department’s Liquor Control Division partnered with officers from the Putnam Police Department and volunteer youths trained and provided by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership to conduct liquor compliance checks at bars and restaurants in the town of Putnam. 

“Compliance operations help us to identify licensed or permitted locations that are selling alcoholic beverages to minors,” Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said. He added that the compliance checks are not intended to hurt local businesses.

“Our goal is to find businesses that sell to minors and bring them into compliance with state liquor laws,” Rubenstein said. “If the volunteer youth are asked their age before making a liquor purchase, they will hand over their actual ID, and tell their true age.”

Eleven (11) restaurants, cafes, and private clubs were tested for compliance on Friday. Of these, one   allegedly failed by serving the minors each an alcoholic beverage. 

The restaurant which allegedly failed was Athens Pizza Restaurant, 140 School Street.

The business is being charged with selling liquor to a minor and will be scheduled for an administrative hearing before the Liquor Control Commission, where it will have the opportunity to address the charges.

“The ten businesses that passed the compliance inspection are complying with the law prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors, and I commend them for their diligence,” Rubenstein said. I also wish to thank the Putnam Police Department for its efforts to reduce underage drinking within their community, and the Prevention Partnership for its ongoing support.”

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