Five Local Stores Fail Alcohol Sales Test

Five Howard County liquor stores will have to face the Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board for violations after selling liquor to underage customers, according to Howard County Police. Nine others will get recognition for refusing to sell to minors.

Police are asking residents who know of businesses that sell alcohol to minors to report them at 410-313-STOP.

Two minors, ages 17 and 19, working with police were able to buy alcohol without being asked for identification at the following businesses: 

• on Frederick Road in Ellicott City (also charged with failing to have an alcohol awareness certified manager on premises and failing to display an alcohol awareness certificate)

• Absolutely Wine & Spirits in Columbia

• All Saints Liquors in Laurel

• Owen Brown Wine & Spirits in Columbia (also charged with failing to display an alcohol awareness certificate) 

• Zapata’s in Columbia (facing two charges of selling to a minor, as well as failure to display an alcohol awareness certificate)

Police Chief William McMahon will be sending letters of appreciation to nine other liquor stores, after they reviewed the two minors’ identification and refused to sell them alcohol:

• Dobbin Square Liquors in Columbia

• Friendship Liquors in West Friendship

• Montpelier Liquors in Fulton

• Oakland Mills Liquors in Columbia

• Snowden River Liquors in Columbia

• U.S. 1 Liquors in Jessup 

• Wings Sports Café in Jessup

• Woody’s Liquor & Bar in Jessup 

• Your Wine & Spirit Shoppe in Woodstock