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St. Mary's board fines two businesses $500 each for sales to underage confidential informants
Summary
The Alcohol Beverage Board imposed $500 administrative penalties on an employee associated with The Front Porch for an underage alcohol sale and on New Market Wine & Spirits for an underage tobacco sale; both incidents were documented during county compliance checks.
The Alcohol Beverage Board of Saint Mary's County on Aug. 14 imposed $500 administrative fines related to two compliance checks that resulted in underage sales.
Board attorney Chris Beaver presented investigative facts for an April 29, 2025 compliance check at The Front Porch (22770 Washington Street, Leonardtown). According to Beaver’s summary, a 19-year-old confidential informant, accompanied by sheriff's office officers, ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio and was served by bartender Taylor Kathleen Staley without any request for identification. The informant and officers documented the sale, and staff photographs and receipts were entered into evidence. Staley waived her right to appear at the board hearing; counsel reported she admitted to not checking identification before or after the service. A board member moved for a $500 penalty based on the evidence; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Counsel confirmed Staley and the licensee would be served notice of the penalty.
Beaver also read facts about a March 27, 2025 tobacco compliance check at New Market Wine & Spirits (Mechanicsville). A 19-year-old confidential informant purchased a pack of nicotine pouches from clerk Marley Lynn Stokes without age verification; officers documented the receipt and photographed the transaction. The clerk later pleaded guilty in District Court (May 27, 2025) to violating §10-107 of the Maryland criminal law for the sale of tobacco products to a person under 21. Licensee representatives acknowledged the sale was an employee mistake, said the store maintains a 100% ID policy, and described steps to retrain staff and increase supervision. The board moved for a $500 administrative penalty for New Market Wine & Spirits; the motion was seconded and approved. The board advised both fined parties that fines are due (board instructions indicated a 10-day payment window) and that they have 30 days from the board's decision to appeal to the Circuit Court for Saint Mary's County.
The board described the hearings as administrative enforcement actions under the Alcoholic Beverages Article and the board's rules; members stressed the importance of consistent ID checks and staff training to prevent future underage sales.
What happens next: Notices of penalty will be served; licensees may appeal within 30 days to the Circuit Court of Saint Mary's County or satisfy the fine within the timeframe provided by the board.
