The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary's County on Thursday heard admissions and imposed fines, training requirements and probationary conditions on multiple licensees after an Oct. 22 underage compliance operation by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office.

Board attorney James Sinovich read findings saying Corporal James Stone worked with Sheriff's cadet Brianna Eland (age 19) during a compliance operation; Eland attempted controlled buys at multiple businesses and was able to complete purchases in several cases after clerks failed to check or enforce identification. The board received admissions of the violations in each case and moved to the penalty phase for each licensee.

Among the establishments the board addressed were Abel's Tavern; Hermanville C Store; Sign of the Whale; Russell Store; Stop and Shop (Lexington Park); and W.J. Dent (Chiefs Bar). For most licensees the board followed its guidance matrix and imposed a $1,000 fine with $500 suspended and a three-year probationary period, and required payment of $500 within 10 days or suspension of the license until payment. The board also required or recommended responsible service (RAS) training for licensees and their employees in multiple cases.

Samantha Gallatin, a server at Abel's Tavern, admitted she failed to check the cadet's ID. "I realized I made a mistake ... I should have just ID'd her," Gallatin told the board. Attorney Hammad Matin said Abel's Tavern admitted the violation and presented mitigation including a plan for staff training; the board approved a $1,000 fine with $500 due in 10 days and $500 held for three years pending no subsequent violations.

Attorney Shane Mattingly represented several licensees and stated his clients "feel horribly" about the incidents and have reviewed training and policies. For Hermanville C Store, Mattingly said clerks previously had training; the clerk "asked the ID but did not check it," and the store agreed to emphasize training. The board fined Hermanville C Store $1,000 with $500 suspended and 10 days to pay.

At the Sign of the Whale hearing, the license holder admitted a clerk who was on the phone failed to ask for ID; the clerk has been terminated, counsel said. The board assessed a $1,000 fine with $500 suspended, RAS training for the licensee and recommendation that the general manager and employees attend RAS training.

At Stop and Shop in Lexington Park, the board's first penalty motion failed on a voice vote with several members expressing concern because the licensees are the primary operators and the store sits near Great Mills High School. The board then passed a second motion that assessed a $1,000 fine, required RAS training for both licensees and set 10 days to pay or face suspension.

W.J. Dent (Chiefs Bar) licensees described a multi-layered compliance and training program they said includes daily staff briefings, posted ID diagrams and use of age-verification tools; they also said the clerk who failed to check ID was terminated immediately. The board imposed the same $1,000/$500-suspended penalty, 10 days to pay and a recommendation that employees take RAS training.

Board members repeatedly emphasized the seriousness of underage sales and the potential consequences for licensees and employees. Board counsel read local consequence guidance drawn from Maryland law and the board's rules and regulations, noting the board may suspend or revoke licenses and levy fines up to $1,000 under local rules.

Votes at a glance

- Abel's Tavern (20281 Piney Point Road, Callaway): $1,000 fine; $500 due in 10 days; $500 suspended for three years pending no violations; mandatory RAS training scheduled. Outcome: approved.
- Hermanville C Store (211513 Notch Road, Lexington Park): $1,000 fine; $500 suspended for three years; $500 due in 10 days. Outcome: approved.
- Sign of the Whale (218993 Notch Road, Lexington Park): $1,000 fine; $500 suspended for three years; mandatory RAS training for licensee; employees and general manager recommended to attend. Outcome: approved.
- Russell Store (44984 Medleys Neck Road, Leonardtown): $1,000 fine; $500 due in 10 days; $500 suspended for three years. Outcome: approved.
- Stop and Shop (21036 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park): $1,000 fine; RAS training required for both licensees; $1,000 payable within 10 days or license suspended. Outcome: initially failed on first motion, final motion approved.
- W.J. Dent / Chiefs Bar (44584 Tall Timbers Road): $1,000 fine; $500 suspended for three years; $500 due in 10 days; employees advised to attend RAS training. Outcome: approved.

The board read into the record the statutory basis for penalties, referencing Section 12-108(a) of Article 2B of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the board's rules and consequence matrix. Several licensees who admitted violations said they would implement or reinforce staff training, and multiple licensees reported they had attended recent RAS or similar training following the incidents.

The board advised licensees that fines are payable to the treasurer of St. Mary's County and noted licensees have 30 days to appeal penalty decisions to the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County.