Several times a year, the Fargo Cass Public Health Substance Abuse Prevention program partners with local law enforcement agencies to carry out alcohol compliance checks in Fargo, West Fargo, and Cass County. The intent of the checks is to ensure alcohol retailers are not selling any alcohol to minors.
Alcohol compliance checks were performed recently throughout Cass County on November 14 and in Fargo on November 18. In Fargo, 12 businesses were checked and 10 passed, resulting in an 83% compliance rate. Across Cass County, 16 businesses were checked and nine passed, resulting in a 56% compliance rate. Fargo Cass Public Health appreciates the cooperation of the business communities in Fargo and Cass County. Licensed alcohol retailers are encouraged to periodically review city ordinances and state laws related to sale of alcohol and to include this important information in training for new employees.
Fargo businesses that failed:
*Steve’s Packaging Place – 524 4th Street North – first fail in one year
*Tailgators Sports Café – 1322 Main Avenue – first fail in one year
Cass County businesses that failed:
*City View Fuel – 13635 54th Street Southeast, Enderlin, N.D. – first fail in one year
*Club 94 – 15568 37th Street Southeast, Casselton, N.D. – first fail in one year
*Governor’s Pub – 2050 Governor’s Drive, Casselton, N.D. – first fail in one year
*Kindred Spirits – 441 Elm Street, Kindred, N.D. – first fail in one year
*Red Baron Lounge – 626 Front Street, Casselton, N.D. – first fail in one year
*The Ringneck Bar & Grill – 404 Railroad Ave. S., Leonard, N.D. – first fail in one year
*Vet’s Club – 814 Front Street, Casselton, N.D. – first fail in one year
Penalties noted below for Fargo reference ‘Server Training’, an alcohol misuse prevention class for servers that teaches safe serving techniques and best practices to avoid over-serving. City Ordinances in Fargo, West Fargo, and Horace require the class.
Fargo penalties:
*First offense - $500 penalty. This penalty may be waived if the person serving the alcoholic beverages, as well as the management, have server training certificates. There will however, be mandatory server training within 30 days for any employee or member of management not having server training. There will be no license sanction on a first offense.
*Second offense - $750 penalty. No license sanction penalty.
*Third offense - $1,000 penalty - for Class "AB", "A" and "B" license holders, one day suspension of license (liquor sales only) with the date selected by licensee within 30days of either occurrence of the offense or final decision upon appeal. For all other classes of liquor licenses, two days suspension of liquor sales only.
*Fourth offense - no monetary penalty - for Class "AB", "A" and "B" license holders, three days in one week suspension of liquor license (liquor sales only) on consecutive dates chosen by licensee requiring the business to be closed. For all other classes of liquor licenses, six consecutive days suspension of liquor sales only. Such suspension shall be within30 days of either the occurrence of the offense or final decision upon appeal.
*Fifth offense - no monetary penalty - for Class "AB", "A" and "B" license holders, seven consecutive day suspension of license (liquor sales only) with the dates selected by licensee requiring the business to be closed for liquor sales. For all other classes of liquor licenses, 14 consecutive days suspension of liquor sales only, such suspension to be within 30 days of either the occurrence of the offense or final decision upon appeal.
*Sixth offense - no monetary penalty - for Class "AB", "A" and "B" license holders, 10 consecutive day suspension of license (liquor sales only) with the dates selected by licensee requiring the business to be closed for liquor sales. For all other classes of liquor licenses, 20 consecutive days suspension of liquor sales only, such suspension to be within 30 days of either the occurrence of the offense or final decision upon appeal.
*Seventh offense - no monetary penalty - revocation of liquor license.
Cass County penalties:
*An alcohol compliance failure in Cass County is considered an infraction, the penalty is imposed by the court, and the entity who signs their liquor license is notified.