The City of Peabody has issued several three-day liquor license suspensions to the Cabaret Lounge Strip Club on Route 1 and other Peabody licensed establishments, such as Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Toscana’s Restaurant and Café for serving minors after a one day sting operation by an undercover police agent. The three day suspensions, which coincide with the 4th of July holiday, were given after the establishments failed to check for ID’s and were caught serving alcohol to minors. Although the establishments were able to choose their suspension dates, the City of Peabody warned that license holders should anticipate more aggressive sting operations in the future.
Chairman of the Licensing Board, Minas Dakos, described the circumstances as “unbelievable” and stated that “people are not being vigilant enough” in even asking for ID’s at the doors. Indeed, the mood from City Hall was that some operators were simply not taking the issue of underage service seriously. The police sting at the Cabaret Lounge on May 23rd was the result of an underage police investigator hanging around the establishment for a period of time and gaining confidence by his casual appearance. The sting operation also netted other establishments in Peabody on the single night for similar service to underage patrons, but those establishments that had no previous violations were given “warnings” instead of suspensions. The City of Peabody, in reported accounts, has sent a message to its licensed establishments that such sting operations, conducted both by local police and the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission will be continuing hereafter until the issue of underage service is taken “seriously.”
Contributed by Courtney McGee
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