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Danvers board places J & J Asian Cuisine license on one‑day suspension, held in abeyance after underage sale
Summary
Following a Nov. 12 compliance check that resulted in an 18‑year‑old purchasing beer, the Select Board voted to suspend J & J Asian Cuisine's retail alcohol license for one day, the suspension to be held in abeyance for one year subject to compliance and retraining.
The Select Board voted on Dec. 16 to suspend for one day — held in abeyance for one year — the retail alcohol license of J & J Asian Cuisine after a police compliance check found an 18‑year‑old was served beer without being asked for identification.
The police chief briefed the board on the compliance operation conducted Nov. 12, in which two 18‑year‑old decoys attempted purchases at liquor-licensed establishments. At approximately 6:39 p.m., an underage decoy entered J & J and was served a Bud Light at the bar without being asked for identification; officers later observed the beer and located the receipt. When the officers approached, the manager and bartender acknowledged the mistake, the chief said.
The restaurant’s owner/manager—who introduced himself to the board—accepted the seriousness of the incident, said he had retrained staff, and acknowledged that the person who served was not usually assigned to the bar. Board members questioned whether the license holder had been present the night of the sale and whether license‑holder alternates were on file.
After discussion of past board practice on similar compliance matters, a motion passed to suspend the license for one day but hold the suspension in abeyance for one year, meaning the penalty will not be applied unless further violations occur within that period. The chief confirmed this was the first compliance issue at that location since the current ownership took over in June 2024.
Board members emphasized the town takes liquor licenses seriously and said they would expect to see evidence of consistent training and license‑holder oversight to prevent a recurrence.
Next steps include ensuring the licensee maintains required training documentation, confirming the list of license alternates with the clerk, and notifying enforcement staff if any further incidents occur during the abeyance period.
(Outcome: motion to suspend one day, held in abeyance for one year — approved.)
