Two Salisbury stores charged with selling liquor on holiday
BOSTON — Two Salisbury package stores will face hearings in Boston at the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission charged with selling alcohol on Memorial Day.
According to Ralph Sacramone, executive director of the ABCC, Dennis's, at 185 North End Blvd., and Gourmet Pantry, at 160 Beach Road, face one charge each of violating state law by selling alcohol on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day). Memorial Day is one of the three legal holidays when the sale of alcohol at package stores is not allowed in Massachusetts.
The owners of both businesses will attend hearings with the ABCC at a future date, Sacramone said, when they can plead their cases. ABCC commissioners will then rule on the violations. Penalties can range from warnings to suspensions to license revocations, Sacramone said.
There are three holidays when package stores cannot sell alcohol in Massachusetts, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day and Memorial Day. Annually, Sacramone said, the ABCC sends out letters to all alcohol license holders reminding them of the holiday restriction and listing the exact dates of each of the three holidays. Such letters went out on October 30, 2007, he said.
ABCC inspectors were out over the Memorial Day weekend as part of its holiday safety program, Sacramone said. Inspectors checked to ensure all license holders were complying with all liquor laws. The two alleged violations above were the only violations found in this area, Sacramone said.
