BRYANS ROAD, Md. — The Charles County Board of License Commissioners imposed $5,750 in fines against Portside Liquors following a show cause hearing involving an underage alcohol delivery, an underage employee and unauthorized alcohol deliveries.
The June 11 hearing involved Jignesh Chuahan, Kapil Gulati and Michael Disaroon, owners of KAH Port Side Liquor Store LLC, trading as Portside Liquors, located at 6967 Indian Head Highway in Bryans Road.
According to testimony from Master Cpl. David Bourgeois of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, investigators conducted a compliance operation on March 6 using a DoorDash alcohol order placed through the business.
Investigators ordered a four-pack of Cutwater cocktails and a BuzzBallz alcoholic beverage for delivery to a residence. Bourgeois testified that a 20-year-old employee of Portside Liquors completed the delivery and handed the alcohol to a 17-year-old authorized underage participant.
The investigation also revealed that the underage participant presented a photograph of the driver’s license belonging to Charles County Alcohol Enforcement Officer Mary Jane Couples. Bourgeois testified that the identification showed a 55-year-old woman born Aug. 22, 1969, but the delivery driver still accepted the identification and handed alcohol to the 17-year-old participant.
“At the time, made a 17-year-old child a 55-year-old woman,” Bourgeois testified while describing the discrepancy between the underage participant and the identification used during the operation.
After the delivery was completed, investigators contacted the driver and determined he was 20 years old and employed by Portside Liquors. Bourgeois testified that the employee later returned to the store, where investigators confirmed his age and employment status with ownership.
The investigation further found that Portside Liquors had been conducting alcohol deliveries without obtaining the authorization required by the Board of License Commissioners.
Attorney David Martinez, representing the license holders, told the board the case was proceeding in an uncontested posture.
“My clients are admitting to the violations,” Martinez said.
Martinez submitted documentation showing satisfactory inspections, alcohol awareness certifications for employees and customer support letters. He also told the board the owners had reviewed updated regulations and were committed to preventing future violations.
Owner Kapil Gulati apologized during the hearing and accepted responsibility for the incident.
“I would like to apologize … whatever has happened, it should not,” Gulati said. “We should have been more careful of whatever we are doing because this is our livelihood.”
The board found the business responsible for three violations:
- Employing an individual under age 21 in the sale of alcoholic beverages.
- Selling or furnishing alcoholic beverages to a person under age 21.
- Delivering alcoholic beverages without authorization from the Board of License Commissioners.
Board members noted that Portside Liquors has operated under its current license since 2020 and had not previously appeared before the board for violations. However, members also discussed the seriousness of the offenses, particularly the underage alcohol delivery.
Before voting on the penalties, commissioners debated whether the fines should be reduced because it was the business’s first violation since receiving its license in 2020.
Board member Kerry-Ann Williams suggested reducing the penalties, noting that it was the business’s first violation since receiving its license in 2020 and that the owners had accepted responsibility for their actions.
“Given that it’s the first violation and given that they’ve received numerous customer satisfaction feedback, I would like, or I would propose that we maybe reduce the fine,” Williams said during the discussion.
Not all board members agreed that the penalties should be reduced. Board member Dorothy Brawner pushed back during the discussion, citing the seriousness of the violations, which included an underage alcohol delivery, the employment of an underage worker in alcohol sales and unauthorized alcohol deliveries.
The board ultimately imposed penalties totaling $5,750, including:
- $750 for selling or furnishing alcoholic beverages to a person under age 21.
- $2,500 for employing an individual under age 21 in the sale of alcoholic beverages.
- $2,500 for conducting alcohol deliveries without board authorization.
After discussion, the board approved fines totaling $5,750 but did not suspend the license. Portside Liquors remains licensed to operate in Bryans Road.
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