Algonquin businesses pay price for selling to minors

Three Algonquin establishments now must pay the price for serving alcohol to minors.

Red Robin, Algonquin Food and Liquors, and Ganlaxmi Discount Liquors on Tuesday appeared before the village's liquor commission and plead guilty to the offense.

As a punishment, they now face fines, court costs and their employees must undergo training in local liquor laws.

In addition, Red Robin faces a 15-day liquor license revocation.

Because it was the eatery's third offense, its license will be suspended from Jan. 21 to Feb. 4. Its owners also must pay a $5,000 fine.

"I can't believe this happened again, and I'm very embarrassed about it," said Doug Stebbins, the store's director of operations.

The eatery has done its due diligence to make sure it doesn't appear before the commission a fourth time, he said.

Now, employees card everyone, managers personally verify ID belonging to people born in the 1980s and the person who sold the alcohol to the minor has been fired, he said.

Also facing penalties were Algonquin Food and Liquor and Ganlaxmi Discount Liquors.

Both agreed to pay $1,000 fines, court costs and to send their employees through the alcohol law training class.

Police discovered two of the three businesses breaking the law during routine compliance checks, Algonquin Police Chief Russell Laine said.

But in the case of Algonquin Food and Liquor, a police officer happened to see a minor buy vodka and malt liquor from one of the store's owners, officials said.

Meanwhile, a fourth business scheduled for Tuesday's hearing -- Cardinal Wine and Spirits -- won't appear before the body until Feb. 5.