WESTFIELD – The License Commission took action Monday night against three businesses licensed to serve alcohol after those establishments failed a police department sting operation by selling alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 21.
The Community Policing unit of the WPD conducted a sting operation on April 15, consistent with guidelines set by the License Commission and the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC), with volunteers under the age of 21 who were instructed to provide their drivers’ license if asked by the staff of a business licensed to serve alcohol.
The License Commission meted out punitive action Monday night ranging from a four-day suspension, the most severe, to warning letters stating that further sting failures may result on a suspension of the liquor license.
The commission voted to enforce a four-day suspension give to the Pop The Cork package store earlier this year and to impose a second six-day suspension to be held in abeyance for a year and then dismissed unless the establishment fails another sting before June 8, 2016.
The four-day suspension, which had been held in abeyance following the store’s failure of an earlier sting, is slated for June 15, 16 17, and 18.
The commission also issued a three-day suspension to 76 Discount Liquors on Southwick Road but also voted to hold that suspension in abeyance for a six-month period. The business had failed an earlier sting, but the board felt the owner had instituted a number of training and testing program, such as mystery shoppers, persons under the age of 21 intentionally sent into the store by the owner to test staff members, a program which the commission has referred to other package store owners who have failed a sting.
The board voted to issue a written warning to the Shaker Farms Country Club on Shaker Road because this was that first sting failure by that business.
The board also voted to grant one-day licenses to Amelia Park for a fundraising event this Friday, WOW for the summer concert series on Park Square Green and the Rotary Club which plans a two-day foodfest in August.
The Amelia Park fundraising event, at which wine and beer will be served in the garden, is slated to begin at 5 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m. on Friday.
The WOW concerts, at which beer and wine is sold, are tentatively slated for Thursday night on June 25, July 16 and Aug. 20. The City Council voted to approve a waiver of the city ordinance prohibiting consumption of alcoholic beverages on city streets and in city parks at its meeting last week.
The Rotary Club is planning a two-day Westfield Festival of Food on Aug. 29 and 30. That event will take place downtown on Elm Street which will be closed to traffic from Franklin Street to the Main/School streets intersection with Elm Street. The Rotary Club will also be seeking to sell beer and wine at that event which will also feature concerts with a number of food truck vendors selling various cuisines.
