Two Danvers restaurants and one liquor store were caught selling liquor to an underaged “operative,” Police Chief Neil Ouellette told the selectmen at a recent meeting, as reported by the Danvers Herald.
“Unfortunately, I’m a little bit troubled to report that we had three situations of non-compliance where an underage operative was, in fact, served alcohol beverages,” Ouellette said.
The compliance check sting was conducted on Friday, Nov. 29, in the late afternoon and early evening. While the majority of restaurants that serve alcohol and liquor stores in town passed the test, Brutole Restaurant on Route 1 and Hong Kong Café at 12 Maple St. served the young woman a Bud Light. And the woman was able to purchase a bottle of red wine at Merchant Liquor Mart at 88 High St.
The Police Department conducts the compliance checks twice a year in an effort to remind owners of liquor licenses that Danvers strongly backs strict enforcement of underage drinking laws.
“Chief, I’m very disappointed,” said Selectman Dan Bennett. “Three violations on one night. We had been doing pretty good. I thought, your sting, if you will call it that, was a good educational tool, letting people know that we are coming out to check. We expect people to be compliant.”
Ouellette explained that each of the businesses was in violation of the rule in Massachusetts state law that makes it illegal to sell or furnish an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21.
