Board finds Stables licensee culpable in underage sale; $300 fine suspended pending three successful checks

The Carroll County Liquor Board found a licensee culpable for selling alcohol to a person under 21 and issued a $300 fine that the board suspended conditionally if the licensee completes three successful compliance checks.

According to Carroll County inspector William Ledley, on Jan. 23, 2025, a compliance volunteer aged 18 sat at the bar at the Stables and ordered a Bud Light; the volunteer was served without being asked for identification. Ledley told the board, “Miss Evans failed…to ask for any identification from the volunteer and gave her a bottle of Bud Light,” and identified the server by her Maryland driver’s license.

Stanley Stanidis, who owns and operates the Stables, acknowledged the incident and provided evidence that the establishment had since revised its procedures. Manager Stacy O’Hara said staff were retrained, the server was disciplined, and the business created a log and carding procedure to check IDs “if they look under 30” and now card more broadly on busy nights. O’Hara said the establishment had one prior compliance check that passed and that they have issued written reminders, placed staff on probation where appropriate and had the errant server complete training and disciplinary steps.

Board members cited the licensee’s long record — Stanidis said he had operated the business nearly 20 years with no prior violations — and the corrective steps taken since the incident in recommending a sanction that recognized both the violation and the licensee’s history. A motion to find the licensee culpable and to assess a $300 fine, suspended upon completion of three additional successful compliance checks, passed by voice vote.