Six Businesses Issued Warnings During Stroll

CHATHAM – Six downtown businesses were issued written warnings for violating alcohol license regulations during the Dec. 8 Christmas By The Sea stroll.

Two of the businesses were cited for serving alcohol without a license. Three were cited for allowing patrons to leave shops with alcohol, and another received a warning for having a tray of pre-poured glasses of prosecco unattended.

Twelve businesses and one non-profit organization were issued one-day alcohol licenses for the stroll.

Given the number of licenses issued and the size of the stroll crowd, “all in all it was a very good night,” said select board chair Cory Metters. During the board’s meeting Tuesday, members agreed not to hold hearings on the violations and asked licensing agent Shanna Nealy and Police Chief Michael Anderson to review the town’s alcoholic beverages regulations to suggest changes that could help businesses avoid violations in the future.

“I think we’re headed in the right direction,” he said.

During past strolls, businesses served alcohol without getting the required one-day license. In recent years, the town has made an effort to ensure that those planning on serving drinks during the stroll and other events understood that the town’s bylaws require a one-day license. According to the bylaw, a one-day license is required if alcohol is served at an event open to the public; if it is advertised; or if a fee is charged.

Only one citizen’s complaint was received related to alcohol during the stroll, said Anderson.

One business received what was essentially a second violation after receiving an initial warning in 2021. At that business, a police officer observed a patron leaving the premises with a drink. Select board members agreed not to pursue a public hearing on the violation.

“I think we’ve elevated this to the level where the community knows we’re taking it seriously,” said board member Michael Schell. “I don’t think we have to go to the level of having hearings on this.”

Anderson said officers downtown during the stroll observed numerous people with open containers of alcohol, but all disposed of the contents when asked. There were no arrests, injuries or other problems during the stroll, he said.

“I was looking but did not see any sign of public intoxication,” he said Tuesday.

Businesses that were notified of violations during the stroll took steps to correct them, Nealy said. One of the businesses that did not have a license immediately removed the alcohol, while at the second, an in-house party was underway, and when told that the public could not be invited, the business complied, she said.

Patrons walking into businesses with alcohol was an issue. Barry Desilets, who did not serve alcohol at his business The Colors of Chatham, said he asked several people who came into his shop with drinks to finish them before they left; some did and others didn’t.

“That is a difficult thing for us as merchants to control,” he said.

Nealy and Anderson had held an online education session for merchants prior to the event, and select board members agreed education was key to ensuring compliance with the regulations. That could be one of the changes to the bylaw, board members suggested. Nealy added that doors were wide open at some of the businesses where violations occurred; requiring that doors be closed could be another change.

Board members also wanted to ensure that applicants appear at license hearings either in person or online, which Metters said was “critical.”