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White Rabbit fined after admitting to storing infused alcohol beyond five days
Summary
The White Rabbit Gastropub admitted storing about 16 containers of infused alcohol past Frederick County’s five‑day limit. The Liquor Board fined the licensee $500, assessed a $2.50 administrative fee, ordered mandatory violation-prevention training and placed the license on one‑year probation; vote 3‑0.
The Frederick County Liquor Board on Aug. 10 found that White Rabbit Gastropub stored infused alcoholic beverages beyond the five‑day limit set by county regulation 6.14 and imposed sanctions after the licensee admitted the violation.
Dawn Sugars, the board’s licensing administrator, read the inspector’s account that during a June 30 inspection “approximately 16 containers of infused alcohol were observed being stored beyond the 5 day permitted under the Frederick County Alcoholic Beverage Regulation 6.14 infusions.” Sugars said the inspector removed and disposed of all 16 containers before leaving the premises.
General manager Larry Fellows told the board the problem stemmed from staff errors in the batching program and described steps the restaurant has taken since the inspection, including pausing batching on most days, issuing disciplinary write‑ups for managers and rolling out a checklist app. “So the buck stops here,” Fellows said, describing his direct oversight and the new MaintainIQ checklist that alerts him if employees do not complete inventory and date checks.
For the admitted 0.333 offense the board ordered a $500 fine, a $2.50 administrative fee, mandatory Violation Prevention Class (VPC) attendance for those involved in making or overseeing infusions, registration to be completed within seven days and a one‑year probationary period. The probation will be triggered to a mandatory appearance for any subsequent “must‑appear” offense. Commissioner Burrell moved the motion, it was seconded and adopted by a 3‑0 vote.
Sugars reminded the licensee that fines are due within 24 hours and double if unpaid. Board members cited the licensee’s corrective steps and attendance at additional industry training as reasons for reducing staff’s original recommended fine.
The board instructed staff to send a summary email outlining payment and registration instructions; Dawn Sugars and the licensing office will follow up with the licensee on next steps.
