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Board finds Red Light Liquors guilty of underage sale, fines business $1,000 plus $50 administrative fee
Summary
After an underage compliance check, the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners found Red Light Liquors guilty of selling alcohol to a minor and imposed a $1,000 fine and $50 administrative fee; the clerk who sold was not TIP-certified at the time.
The Caroline County Board of License Commissioners found Red Light Liquors guilty of selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 following an Oct. 14, 2024 on-premises compliance check and imposed a $1,000 fine plus a $50 administrative fee at its Jan. 22 meeting.
The board opened a show-cause hearing after receiving an incident report and summonses from the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office documenting an underage compliance check. According to the sheriff’s incident report presented at the hearing, a 19-year-old decoy entered Red Light Liquors, purchased a 24-ounce malt beverage and left the store; deputies and board staff reviewed the receipt and then contacted store staff. The citation in the board packet alleged a violation of Section 6-304 of the Alcoholic Beverages Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and Caroline County Regulation 2.26.
At the hearing one of the license holders and an on-site employee acknowledged the sale. License representatives said two people were working that day: a TIP-certified clerk (Corey Crockett) and a new employee, Jacob (Jake) Jones, who had worked two days and who primarily stocked shelves but had been trained at the register. The licensee said Crockett stepped away to the restroom, leaving Jones to operate the register; Jones did not ask for ID in this instance. Staff and the licensee told the board that Jones had been trained about carding customers and that the business uses an ID scanner, but Jones was not TIP-certified at the time of the sale because he had been employed only two days.
Board members deliberated on evidence and testimony, voted to find the establishment guilty and voted to impose a $1,000 fine plus the standard $50 administrative fee. Board staff noted that future violations could result in suspension, revocation or additional fines. The board instructed staff to issue written notice; the licensee will have the usual 30 days to appeal or remit payment as provided by board procedure.
During the hearing the inspector and the sheriff’s office said the licensee cooperated with investigators. The board also discussed enforcement timing and backlog of cases; staff said they try to prioritize repeat offenders but sometimes scheduling, evidence gathering or officer availability delays hearings.
Ending note: The board warned the licensee to reinforce carding policy with employees and to ensure all staff working register duties hold current TIP certification to avoid more severe consequences for future violations.
