BJ's Sports Pub and Deli would disturb the peace if the owners were allowed to sell liquor, the county liquor board has ruled.

The board denied owners Barry Snyder of Westminster and Joseph Kaplan of Baltimore a license to sell beer, wine and liquor.

Their attorney, Thomas Stansfield of Westminster, said Thursday the owners have not decided yet whether they will appeal the decision to Carroll County Circuit Court.

The two men wanted to open a pub and deli at 36 Locust St., next to a senior citizen apartment house.

About 40 residents and Westminster Mayor W. Benjamin Brown attended a liquor board hearing last month to protest. They said they were worried about late-night noise and drunken people wandering in the street.

Kaplan said it would be hard to meet expenses for the business without a liquor license.

In its written decision, the liquor board said the owners did not prove there was a public need for the restaurant and bar and that the menu did not meet board requirements. The menu must include a choice of at least three entrees and two vegetables, the decision states.

The pub could seat about 200 people andwould be open seven days a week, the owners said. The menu would include salads, soup, sandwiches, steak and shrimp, they said.

The board also said liquor sales would "unduly disturb the peace of the residents of the neighborhood."