Albany, NY – The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) summarily suspended the license of Anthony Caruso LLC, doing business as “Hairy McTony’s Irish Pub” at 102 Main Street in Cortland today. The suspension was ordered by Chairman Vincent Bradley, Commissioner Lily Fan and Commissioner Greeley Ford at a meeting of the Full Board on October 27, 2021. Effective immediately, no alcohol may be sold or consumed on the premises.
On Friday, October 22nd, investigators from the SLA, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and officers with the Cortland Police Department (CPD) conducted a compliance inspection at the premises. The inspection followed a request from the CPD to address numerous complaints of underage drinking at the licensed premises.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., SLA undercover investigators entered the premises finding nearly one-hundred patrons appearing to be underage crowded inside the bar, with several observed drinking alcoholic beverages. Based on these observations, the multi-agency team consisting of the SLA, DMV and CPD entered and secured the premises to begin checking IDs.
The investigation found that out of eighty-five patrons inside the premises, only ten were of legal drinking age, despite the bar’s stated policy of not admitting anyone under twenty-one. SLA investigators observed eight direct sales to minors, in addition to obtaining three statements from minors who admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages purchased from bartenders. DMV investigators and officers with the CPD issued seventy appearance tickets for possession of fictitious or fraudulent identification. In addition, SLA investigators found none of the four bouncers on duty were registered as security guards.
On October 25th, the SLA charged Hairy McTony’s Irish Pub with thirteen violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, including eleven counts for selling to a minor, failure to supervise and employing unlicensed security guards.
SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley said, “This licensee has displayed a disturbing and dangerous indifference to the law by brazenly catering to minors. I thank our partners with the DMV and the Cortland Police Department for ensuring bar owners who knowingly serve alcohol to minors are held accountable.”
Emergency Summary Suspensions are imposed when the SLA finds the continued operation of a licensed business threatens public health and safety. Suspension orders are served immediately and remain in effect indefinitely, with the maximum penalty including the permanent revocation of the license and fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Licensees subject to an emergency suspension are entitled to a prompt hearing before an SLA Administrative Law Judge.
