The St. Mary's County Alcohol Beverage Board convened on February 1, 2025, to address a significant violation involving the sale of alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated individual. The case centered around an incident that occurred on April 23, 2014, at 2,000 Liquors, where testimony indicated that a customer, identified as Miss DeMuzio, was visibly intoxicated when she purchased a six-pack of beer.

During the meeting, board members reviewed detailed accounts from law enforcement officers who observed Miss DeMuzio prior to her visit to the liquor store. Officers described her as stumbling, with slurred speech and glassy eyes, raising concerns about her state of sobriety. Despite this, the store owner, Mr. Patel, testified that he did not notice anything unusual during her brief time in the store, which lasted approximately two minutes.

The board discussed the implications of the testimony, particularly focusing on the legal standards for determining intoxication. Members debated whether the evidence presented was sufficient to conclude that a violation had occurred, given that no formal blood alcohol content tests were conducted at the time of the incident. However, the officers' observations prior to the sale were deemed critical in establishing that Miss DeMuzio was indeed under the influence of alcohol.

After deliberation, a motion was made to find 2,000 Liquors guilty of the violation. The board emphasized the responsibility of license holders to ensure they do not sell alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals. The discussion highlighted the challenges faced by store owners in assessing a customer's state of sobriety, especially when the interaction is brief.

The board's decision will have implications for the liquor store's operations moving forward, as they will need to reinforce training and protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. The meeting underscored the ongoing efforts of the Alcohol Beverage Board to uphold community standards and ensure responsible alcohol sales within St. Mary's County.