Howard County hearing on Harper’s Choice Liquors deferred after licensees stipulate to proffered facts
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Summary
The Alcohol Beverage Hearing Board heard a petition July 22 against Harper’s Choice Liquors (doing business as Harper’s Spirits) following a July 11 alleged underage sale. The licensees and their counsel stipulated to the inspector’s facts; the board deferred decision to closed session.
The Howard County Alcohol Beverage Hearing Board on July 22, 2024 took up a petition seeking to fine, suspend or revoke the class A beer, wine and liquor seven‑day off‑sale license for Harper’s Choice Liquors (doing business as Harper’s Spirits), licensees Sung Jin Kim and Aaron Edings Funk. Counsel for the licensees agreed to stipulate to a proffered fact pattern from the liquor inspector.
Inspector’s proffer: The county’s liquor inspector reported that on July 11, 2024 at about 16:20, a male cadet younger than 21 entered Harper’s Choice Liquors (5485 Harper’s Farm Road, Columbia) and purchased a 750‑milliliter bottle of Sandeman Fine Tawny Port from cashier Josephine Kim without an ID check. Detective Baxter notified the licensee; the inspector’s report says the licensee’s on‑file alcohol‑awareness certificate was expired (07/24/2021) at the time of the incident; the licensee later provided an updated certificate.
Licensee response and mitigation: Thomas Marinick, counsel for the licensees, told the board his clients would stipulate to the facts proffered. Sung Jin Kim testified that Josephine Kim was a relative who was helping at the register that day; he said the licensee updated its alcohol‑awareness certification immediately after the incident and that the business has otherwise operated with no prior violations in about 10 years. Counsel urged the board to consider those mitigations when determining disposition and recommended a fine.
Board action: The board closed the record and heard brief mitigation arguments from both sides. No decision was announced during the hearing; the board said it would deliberate in closed session and issue a later written decision.
Why it matters: The hearing centers on enforcement of age‑of‑sale laws and licensee responsibilities to maintain valid staff alcohol‑awareness certification and proper point‑of‑sale procedures. The board’s forthcoming decision will determine any sanction or corrective conditions for the license.