Saugus clubs on notice

SAUGUS – A letter warning clubs, cafes and restaurants that the Board of Selectmen will no longer tolerate any liquor license infraction has gone out to every liquor license holder in town.Selectman Peter Rossetti asked his colleagues to support sending the letter because frankly he is about at his wits end with the town’s nightclubs.Jin, the Asian Entertainment Complex, is coming before the board for a show cause hearing Wednesday, Tabu Ultra Lounge will be in Tuesday, Feb. 17 for its show cause hearing and Hooters has been invited in to discuss an underage drinking incident.Rossetti said it’s time to let liquor license holders know that any infraction will now be dealt with swiftly and severely.And no license holder was spared the letter.When asked if the letters had already gone out, Board Chairman Donald Wong said yes. He knew the letters had gone out, he said, because as a liquor license holder he had already received his. Wong, along with his family, owns The Kowloon Restaurant on Route 1 and Maddy’s Lounge and Grill, located at the Route 1 and Route 99 split.In the letter the board recognizes that many of the incidents that have gotten the clubs in trouble have happened outside, “however this does not absolve the license holder from being responsible.”The letter goes on to encourage license holders to review procedures and policies for liquor operation and to review them with employees as well. It also warns establishments that any violation will be investigated and could come with costly and time consuming actions. Show cause hearings, which are run similar to a court case with attorneys and witnesses, can wrap up in one night, play over a couple of nights or, in the case of The Palace Entertainment Complex, span several weeks.”The Board of Selectmen realize that most of the full license holders and the holders of beer and wine licenses or cordial permits have never had issues with liquor service, however, we wish to make it known that any and all issues with liquor service will be treated as serious violations,” the letter states.