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Carroll County fines Gateway Liquors $800 after two sales‑to‑minor compliance failures
Summary
After testimony that a store employee sold alcohol to a 19‑year‑old volunteer during a compliance check, the Carroll County Board of License Commissioners found the licensee culpable and imposed an $800 fine, payable within 30 days.
The Carroll County Board of License Commissioners found the licensee of Gateway Liquors culpable of a sale to a person under 21 and imposed a fine of $800, the board announced at a public violation hearing.
Inspector Bill Ledley testified that on Nov. 6, 2025, an underage volunteer (age 19) entered Gateway Liquors, selected a six‑pack of beer and completed the purchase without being asked for identification. Ledley said a follow‑up compliance check on Dec. 12, 2025, passed. The inspector entered compliance reports and related documents into evidence.
Licensee Namrata Karka Basnet identified herself on the record and acknowledged the incident. Basnet described store training and policies intended to require ID checks; she said staff had been reminded and trained following the earlier failure. The employee who made the sale, Anuradha Rawel, testified under oath that she failed to check ID that day, acknowledged her TIPS/TAM certification and apologized, calling the error isolated.
A community supporter, Niraj Shah, spoke on the licensee’s behalf, describing efforts to help immigrant small business owners stabilize operations and asking the board to consider mitigation. Board members said they were concerned by two failures in close succession and emphasized public safety risks from underage alcohol access.
In deliberations the board noted it has statutory authority to impose fines up to $2,000 and to suspend or revoke licenses for repeated violations. After discussion, a board member moved to find the licensee culpable and impose an $800 fine; the motion carried. The board ordered the fine to be satisfied within 30 days of official notice and warned that further violations could lead to suspension or revocation.
