The Howard County Board of License Commissioners has fined an Ellicott City liquor store $2,000 for selling alcohol to an undercover police cadet.

The board voted 4-0 -- member C. Vernon Gray was absent -- to penalize Allview Liquors in the 9400 block of Old Annapolis Road after a store owner acknowledged that on Aug. 24 a clerk sold a $6.70 six-pack of beer to an undercover cadet who was younger than 21 without asking the cadet for proof of age.

The board's decision and order, released yesterday, noted that although store employees have confiscated at least 10 false identification cards recently, the August violation followed a $1,000 fine imposed in February 1998.

At that time, the board ruled that the store had sold liquor to underage customers on two occasions.

J. Bernard McClellan, co-owner of the store, was unavailable for comment, and a store employee declined to comment yesterday.

Pub Date: 3/12/99