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Committee recommends 70 demerit points, ID scanners and retraining for Shenanigans after underage‑sale complaint
Summary
After hearing testimony that an underage drinker obtained alcohol via Shenanigans' drive‑through, the Kenosha Licensing & Permit Committee voted 4–0 to recommend 70 demerit points and orders requiring an ID scanner within 60 days and retraining of staff within 30 days; the recommendation goes to the Common Council for final action.
The Kenosha Licensing & Permit Committee on March 10 recommended that the Common Council assess sanctions and corrective orders against Shenanigans (ALK Inc.) after a complainant said her minor daughter had a 0.31 blood alcohol reading following a Thanksgiving‑period drink purchased at the establishment's drive‑through.
Angela Preston told the committee she found her daughter nonresponsive after the incident and that she believes the business failed to card patrons at the drive window. "A business should protect the kids in the community," Preston said during her testimony.
Licensee representative Mister Czarnecki acknowledged the citations and described steps the business has taken since the incident, including upgrading its surveillance system to retain at least 120 days of footage and offering to cooperate with police. "We watched video ... it showed that at the approximate time the credit card was used, a female came through and did buy a bottle and did not show an ID," the licensee said, acknowledging the prior citation and that the company had since upgraded cameras and trained staff.
Lieutenant Jeffrey Galley of the Kenosha Police Department's tavern unit told the committee the tavern unit found the business out of compliance with the city's drive‑through regulations (ordinance 10.057) and that the licensee later told officers the retention period and camera capabilities had been improved. Galley provided the committee with a tavern unit letter documenting those findings and compliance communications.
After asking questions of the complainant and the licensee about evidence, training, and what steps were taken after the incident, committee members moved to recommend the following to the Common Council: assess 70 demerit points against the license at that location; require installation of an ID scanner within 60 days; and require retraining of all staff (Wisconsin Responsible Beverage Server training or equivalent) with proof provided to the committee within 30 days of any council order. The committee voted 4–0 to forward the recommendation to the Common Council for final action.
The committee chair noted the committee's action is only a recommendation; any final penalties or orders will be set by the Common Council. The committee also moved into closed session to allow its attorneys to finalize a confidential memo before that council action.
Next step: the committee's recommendation will be considered by the Common Council; the committee's orders (ID scanner and retraining) and the 70 demerit points are subject to council approval.
