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Pax River Ale House fined $1,000 for purchasing beer from unapproved source, board says
Summary
Inspectors found a Pax River Ale House receipt from ABC Liquors for three 18-packs of Miller Lite; the board fined the licensee $1,000 for purchasing alcoholic beverages from an unapproved source.
The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary’s County on May 8, 2025 fined Pax River Ale House $1,000 after an inspection found the bar procured beer from an unapproved retail source, the board said.
Inspector Kevin Hall told the board that during a routine board inspection on Feb. 7, 2025 he reviewed the licensee’s records and found a sales receipt from ABC Liquors dated Aug. 26, 2024 for three 18-packs of Miller Lite. Inspector Hall retained a copy of the receipt and provided it to the board. The board’s attorney read the alleged violation to be a breach of Annotated Code of Maryland, Alcoholic Beverages Article §6-311(b)(1) and board rule 5.04(e)(1).
Melissa Acaris, representing the Pax River Ale House, and the bar’s manager (who was identified in the record as Sharon Hall) acknowledged the purchase. Acaris and the manager said the purchase was a poor decision made when the venue ran out of a product for regular customers; Acaris told the board the business has moved to a 100% ID-check policy and has invested in staff training: “We have really worked hard to create a culture of compliance. We're 100% ID check.”
After discussion the board voted to assess a $1,000 fine. The chair told the licensee it has 10 days to pay the fine and 30 days to appeal the decision to the Circuit Court of St. Mary’s County.
