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Pittsfield Board Suspends Bei Tempi's Liquor License for Underage Service
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Licensing Board on Monday voted to suspend Bei Tempi's liquor license for five days, determining that it was "more likely than not" that the bar served at least one underage patron alcohol.
The penalty will begin on July 6.
"I just think the conventional wisdom would dictate that two minors don't go into a bar on multiple occasions to get juice," board member Jon Lifvergren said, referring to the contents of a glass in video surveillance.
"It's conceivable, it's possible, but conventional wisdom- just, every fiber of my being is just saying, what's the likelihood of that? That they've been there, from what I understand, on multiple occasions, to have some juice?"
Earlier this year, Police Capt. Matthew Hill received a call from an upset parent about her 19-year-old daughter patronizing Iztac Mexican Restaurant at night and being served. Those photos resulted in a two-week liquor license suspension for Iztac, which is now closed, and the same mother submitted an almost identical complaint about Bei Tempi, accompanied by photos.
At the last hearing, the board watched security footage from the night, around 11 p.m., which does not display the establishment's door or bar, and heard from the patron's mother.
Attorney Ken Ferris on Monday argued that there isn't enough information to substantiate the claim, specifically that video footage only showed a reddish liquid in a glass held by one of the girls and that they didn't appear to be stumbling.
He said they were there to dance and not to drink.
Board member Kathy Amuso said the police wouldn't have brought the incident forward if they didn't feel underage people were drinking.
The Licensing Board voted to suspend Bei Tempi's liquor license for five days, determining that it was "more likely than not" that the bar served at least one underage patron alcohol.
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