Looney's Pub has been open in Maple Lawn for less than a year, but the licensees, Anna Lee and Steven Litrenta, were fined $1,000 and ordered to stop selling alcohol for two days next month for several liquor law violations.
According to an agreed-upon statement of facts, the pub was swamped with well over 300 customers on March 14, the pub's second day in business, and things got out of hand.
A county police officer found unsupervised children in the game area, 10 feet from the bar; an inebriated man who was still being served drinks; and people drinking outside on the sidewalk.
The inebriated patron was removed, but another was found later in the same condition. The restaurant was also cited for having closed blinds while preparing to close, an infraction because it prevents inspectors from observing from outside.
A new manager was hired and tighter controls were imposed, but on June 3, a bartender sold a glass of beer to an underage police cadet without asking for identification. That same night, police observed more people drinking outside, which is illegal.
Police said management has been cooperative and worked with them to make corrections.
The alcohol ban runs from 6 a.m. Jan. 7 to 6 a.m. Jan. 9, according to the Dec. 16 decision by the Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board.
- Larry Carson