SNOW HILL– Beer and wine sales have been suspended at an Ocean City store following underage alcohol sales.
Seaside Deli Beer and Wine received a 60-day suspension and $12,000 in fines at a hearing with the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) Monday. The suspension came after police reported six incidents in the month of June where underage customers purchased alcohol at the store. Four of the incidents occurred on the same evening.
“Clearly there’s a problem,” said Ocean City Police Department Sgt. Doug Smith.
The BLC scheduled Monday’s hearing after being advised of alcohol sales to minors at Seaside Deli on 72nd Street. According to members of the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD), they received complaints that Seaside Deli was selling alcohol to minors. On June 3, they set up a surveillance detail outside the store. Four incidents of sales to minors were witnessed that night and other sales were reported on June 5 and June 24.
OCPD Corporal Chris Snyder told the board he had officers across the street watching the store and when customers that appeared to be under 21 came out with beer they checked license plate numbers to determine whether those shoppers were likely under 21. As a result, several local teenagers were stopped within minutes of leaving the store. Several told police they’d purchased alcohol from Seaside Deli before and that they were not asked for identification.
Thru various owners, that store was well known by local kid
Guess their luck finally ran “dry”.at a cost of $12k