November 17, 2022
The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) summarily suspended the license of All Star Pizza & Deli Inc. at 224 Quail Street in Albany today. The suspension was ordered by Chairman Vincent Bradley and Commissioner Lily Fan at a special meeting of the Full Board on November 17, 2022. Effective immediately, no alcohol may be sold on the premises.
On November 14, 2022, an Albany Police Department undercover auxiliary agent, who was only 15 years of age, purchased a 12 pack of beer without being asked for identification from a clerk who was just 17 years of age,. This is the fifth sale to a minor in just the last year and a half, dating back to May 6, 2021. In that time, the SLA has imposed over $20,000 in fines for multiple sales to minors in addition to possession of untaxed cigarettes.
On November 16, 2022, the SLA charged All Star Pizza & Deli with multiple violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, including selling alcoholic beverages to persons under 21, and employing a person under the age of 18 to work on the premises in a capacity where their duties required them to sell alcoholic beverages. During the suspension, the SLA will prosecute these violations, the maximum penalty for which is revocation of the license.
"The licensee's blatant and alarming indifference to the law by continuing to sell alcoholic beverages to our youth is a serious threat to public health, safety, and welfare," said SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley. "The SLA is sending a clear message today that licensees that place profits above public safety, and the personal safety of minors, will be immediately closed."
The State Administrative Procedure Act authorizes a State agency to summarily suspend a license when the agency finds that public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action. When the SLA summarily suspends a license, it also serves a Notice of Pleading alleging one or more disciplinary violations. In invoking a summary suspension, the SLA has deemed the violation to be sufficiently serious upon initial review to warrant an immediate suspension. The SLA’s decision to summarily suspend a license is not a final determination on the merits of the case. The licensee is entitled to a prompt hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
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