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Avenue Kitchen & Bar fined $3,500 after repeated sales-to-minors findings
Summary
The Board found multiple sales-to-minors violations at The Avenue Kitchen & Bar and imposed a $3,500 fine for repeated infractions plus additional fines for related violations; the licensee was given 60 days to pay and directed to improve staff training and compliance procedures.
The Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore City found The Avenue Kitchen & Bar guilty of repeated sales-to-minors violations at its May 21 hearing and imposed a $3,500 fine for the sales violations alone, plus separate fines totaling $1,500 for related violations, for a combined penalty of $5,000 with 60 days to pay.
The chair described the sales-to-minors count as a fourth repeated offense for that license, noting prior incidents in 2019 and later years that factored into the penalty. Counsel for the licensee argued mitigation and described efforts to recruit staff and pursue licensing adjustments; the board accepted some mitigation but said repeat infractions justify a substantial penalty.
Inspectors testified that undercover operations involving sheriff cadets and marked bills confirmed at least two separate underage purchases on March 20–21, 2026. The board emphasized that training and on-site supervision must be ongoing and warned that fines escalate with additional violations, potentially leading to suspension or revocation.
The board set the payment window at 60 days and asked licensee representatives to supply documentation of staff training and any corrective measures. The decision underscores the board's current enforcement focus on preventing underage alcohol sales and holding licensees responsible for staff supervision.
The board's ruling is final unless the licensee seeks administrative review; staff also offered resources to help the licensee comply going forward.
