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Liquor board applies $500 penalties after multiple compliance failures; police urge stronger steps on underage service
Summary
Following failed compliance checks at several establishments, Fargo's Liquor Control board voted to apply $500 administrative penalties; police and city staff discussed recurring underage service by servers and options such as card readers and increased penalties.
The Fargo Liquor Control board voted to apply a $500 administrative penalty to a group of establishments after recent compliance checks found sales to underage decoys or other failures.
The affected businesses named in the meeting packet were Applebee's North, Applebee's Thirteenth Avenue, Applebee's (40 Fifth Street), Chili's, Bismarck Tavern and Empire Tavern. "Proper notice has been sent to all of these businesses," said Steve Sprague, licensing staff.
Why it matters: The police described a recurring pattern in which servers examine IDs for 18- and 19-year-olds and then serve them anyway, exposing owners to liability and undermining enforcement efforts. Chief Zabulski highlighted that pattern and suggested consideration of higher fines for servers who violate the rules: "it just seems to be, it's inexplicable why they look and they continue to do it," he said.
Legal and enforcement context: Will, the city prosecutor, told the board the common charges for minors and alcohol — being on premises, possessing a fake ID, or being intoxicated — are infractions that "can get punished up to a thousand dollars," though he said fines in municipal court "usually range between 300 and $500." He also noted that in many of the compliance checks minors are working in cooperation with police as decoys.
Board discussion and remedies: Commissioners and staff discussed positive incentives and tools to reduce failures: acquiring forensic card readers, which staff said cost roughly $5,000–$6,000 each, and a possible buyback program to encourage confiscation of fake IDs. Robin Licki of Cass Public Health (program administrator) was identified as the contact who has distributed some trial card readers to local establishments.
Action and outcome: On a motion, the board voted to apply the $500 administrative penalty to the listed businesses. Staff said notices had been mailed and there were no protests on the record.
Ending: Board members asked staff to pursue increased outreach on available card readers and to consider positive incentives for compliant businesses while continuing enforcement for failures.
