Swampscott board hands out 8 liquor suspensions

SWAMPSCOTT – If you’re looking for a place to wet your whistle in town on March 28, you’ll be hard pressed to find one.Six businesses had their liquor licenses suspended by the Board of Selectmen on March 28 and two other businesses had their licenses suspended from March 26 to March 28.The businesses were caught in a recent sting operation conducted by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) and police department.According to police, a minor was sent into the 11 establishments that serve and/or sell alcohol in town on Feb. 8 and eight of the businesses sold alcohol to the minor without asking for identification.Fiory’s Variety on Burrill Street, Uno’s Chicago Grill, C&L Package Store, Gourmet Garden, Thai Thani, Hawthorne by the Sea, Café Paradiso and Red Rock Bistro all sold alcohol to a minor without asking for identification.Representatives of all eight businesses were at the Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday and each business owner or their representative apologized for the infraction.Selectman Anthony Scibelli said he believed a one-day suspension of the liquor license was in order for first time offenders and he recommended a three-day suspension for C&L Liquors and Thai Thani because they had previous offenses.Chairman Adam Forman said the town is counting on businesses that sell alcohol to be responsible and help ensure minors do not have access to alcohol.”The stakes are really high,” he said.Selectmen Marc Paster said he didn’t believe a suspension was in order for first time offenders and a three-day suspension was too much for a second time offender. Paster urged the Board to be lenient, but his fellow selectmen disagreed and voted 4-1 in favor of the suspensions.