Arizona Pizza cited for furnishing alcohol to underage buyer; staff fined and license penalties suspended

Arizona Pizza acknowledged furnishing alcohol to a person under 21 during a county compliance check and accepted the board's fines on Feb. 8.

Deputies testified a confidential informant who displayed a Maryland driver's license marked with an alcohol restriction under 21 was served a beer at the restaurant. Deputies photographed the informant with a beverage; the server (identified in the police contact as Brandy Carter) told deputies she had served the drink. The licensee representatives agreed the server had been terminated after the incident.

The board heard the licensee’s explanation that the server had told management she had carded the patron and misread the birth date (confusing a 9 for a 6, according to the licensee’s account). The licensee also said bartenders and managers are required to be TAMS certified; management said additional staff have since completed training.

After hearing facts and argument, the board imposed a $500 fine on the furnishing charge and suspended $250 of that amount; no probation or license suspension was imposed. On the second charge the board imposed a $250 fine that it placed in suspension. The chair instructed the licensee to pay $250 (the active portion) to county treasury within 10 days and explained the licensee had 30 days to appeal.

Board members cautioned that repeat violations would result in more severe penalties. The operator said losing the liquor license would substantially hurt the business.