Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Compliance And Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Liquor board fines Orion Wine & Spirits $1,500, places license on two-year probation after sale to a minor
Summary
The Frederick County Board of License Commissioners found Orion Wine & Spirits guilty of selling alcohol to a 19-year-old and imposed a $1,500 fine, a $250 administrative fee, a $200 violation-prevention class, and two years’ probation with a one-week suspension held in abeyance; the board voted unanimously.
The Frederick County Board of License Commissioners on July 13 found Orion Wine & Spirits responsible for a June 25, 2026 sale of alcohol to a 19-year-old and imposed administrative penalties and training requirements.
Director Sugars (Liquor Board staff) read the charge and exhibits, saying the establishment’s clerk failed to request identification and a board inspector observed the sale. Sugars said staff recommended a $1,500 fine, a $250 administrative fee and a $200 fee for a mandatory violation-prevention class, and asked that the license be placed on two years’ probation with a one-week suspension held in abeyance. “Due to this being the second sales-to-minor since 2018, we are going to ask that the fine is $1,500,” Sugars said.
Licensee Tom Seymour, who appeared for the business, acknowledged the incident and described steps the store has taken since the citation: personnel changes, manager training and point-of-sale upgrades to require ID scanning. Seymour said the employee involved is remorseful. “He’s extremely sorry,” Seymour said, adding the employee was removed from service and will not work behind the counter.
During the hearing board members reviewed the store’s prior compliance history, including a 2018 sale-to-minor finding and other earlier warnings. Staff told the board the establishment is not currently on probation and that the more recent citation represented a lapse in the inspection cycle.
Commissioner (mover) brought a motion adopting staff’s recommendation: a $1,500 fine, a $250 administrative fee, a one-time $200 fee to cover the required violation-prevention class (to be completed by October 8), a two-year probationary period and a one-week suspension to be held in abeyance (no buyback option). The motion passed unanimously.
The board asked the licensee to register for the training within seven days of the hearing and encouraged internal policies such as regular refresher training and mystery-shopper checks to prevent repeat sales. The board noted that a third offense during the probation period would trigger the suspended one-week suspension and possible further penalties or revocation.
The board’s decision is administrative; staff will send the licensee a summary email with payment instructions and compliance dates. The board closed the hearing and returned to the regular agenda.
