The Caroline County Board of License Commissioners on Feb. 26 found Red Light Liquors guilty of selling alcohol to an underage person and imposed a $2,500 fine, a standard administrative fee and a three-day license suspension to be scheduled following the appeal period.

Alcoholic-beverage inspector Trey described an undercover compliance operation on Nov. 27, 2024, using confidential informants. Trey said CI 1, age 19, entered Red Light Liquors at approximately 7:20 p.m., purchased a six-pack of flavored malt beverage and was not asked to produce identification. Trey said the marked $20 bill used in the purchase was recovered and matched surveillance and receipt evidence.

Robert Riddick, who identified himself in the record as representing Red Light Liquors, accepted responsibility on behalf of the business and said the staff member who made the sale had been supervised and that the company had already implemented extra ID checks and additional staff training. Riddick said the business was short-staffed on the night in question and that the clerk had been dealing with a loss in the family; he said the store has since increased on-site oversight and training.

Board members considered the matter serious because it was the second underage-sale incident involving the establishment within a little over a month. Commissioners discussed a range of penalties and settled on a $2,500 fine, a $50 administrative fee and a three-day suspension, with the specific suspension dates to be agreed with county staff and scheduled before summer. The licensee was told it may pay the fine within 30 days or choose to appeal the decision.