Some pleaded their case, but in the end it did no good. The Fayetteville City Council was sympathetic, but that emotion did not stop them from imposing fines, permit revocations and warnings for businesses selling alcohol to those under-age or selling alcohol without a permit.

In its wake, council members March 20 cited five local businesses following the November sting operation conducted by Fayetteville Police.

The businesses affected included Thomas Amoco on North Glynn Street, Village Market on North Glynn, Mike & C’s on South Glynn, Pit Stop on North Glynn and Royal Chef China Bistro on South Glynn.

The council imposed a fine of $500 for the bartender or server selling to under-age persons, issued a warning to the businesses involved and revoked the serving permit for the responsible bartender or server for a period of two years.

Police Chief Steve Heaton recommended the penalties based on current city ordinance.

Mike & C’s co-owner Ceresa Coffee and the bartender cited were present at the council meeting. Coffee said she was upset that her staff broke the law, though she believed revoking the bartender’s permit to pour alcohol for two years was excessive.

“I don’t put up with anything and I don’t tolerate anything,” Coffee said of her employees as she asked for some leniency from the council. “This is her first offense. Please make (the revocation) a lesser time. She is a college student who is trying to make a living. I trust her with my livelihood.”

Coffee’s impassioned plea was noted by the council, particularly by Councilman Al Hovey-King, saying that Coffee’s was the first case he had seen that possessed credibility.

When all was done, the council voted to uphold Heaton’s recommendation. Hovey-King abstained in the vote on the Mike & C’s violation.

In another case, Village Market owner Wazirali Jivani also asked for leniency for his business in the case of an employee charged twice for selling beer without a permit.

Jivani’s claim that the employee was a trainee on his first day and was no longer employed at the business did not deter the council.

They voted unanimously on a $1,000 fine and a 30-day suspension of Village Market’s license to sell alcohol.

The cases had already been to court, with the servers receiving $835 fines for selling to under-age persons. The Village Market employee was fined additionally for selling without a permit.

login to post comments