The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control board has suspended the beer and wine license of a Kempsville gas station after concluding that the owner sold alcoholic energy drinks to a minor.
The board ruled that on March 6, owner Dae "David" Ik Chong sold three cans of Four Loko, a drink containing 12 percent malt alcohol and caffeine, to a 16-year-old boy at the Woodstock Shell at 6084 Indian River Road, according to a decision from the board.
Later that night, the teen crashed his car into a tree. The impact killed his passenger, 16-year-old Joseph "Joey" Fonseca, and resulted in the teen driver being convicted of drunken driving and aggravated involuntary manslaughter.
Chong had until Monday to appeal the decision, but did not, said Kathleen Shaw, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The suspension, which will span 30 days or upon payment of a $3,000 civil fine be shortened to 10 days, will kick in when Chong is served with the final board order, probably sometime next week, Shaw said.
Chong, who is licensed as New Life Enterprise Inc., intends to take the 30-day suspension, said his attorney, Edward A. Fiorella Jr. He declined to comment further.
The suspension will not affect a second Beach store owned by Chong and his wife at 1085 Virginia Beach Blvd., Shaw said. In July, a juvenile court judge found Chong guilty of selling alcohol to a minor on March 6 and fined him $100.
Alcoholic energy drinks have come under attack nationally. On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration warned four makers of the drinks that caffeine is unsafe to add to malt alcoholic beverages. The administration gave them 15 days to respond and warned that seizure of their products or an injunction on production could follow if the companies continue to make and market them.
Gil Kerlikowske, the White House's drug policy director, applauded the FDA's decision.
"These products are designed, branded and promoted to encourage binge drinking, and I commend the FDA for acting promptly to curb their sale," he wrote in a statement. "These drinks are especially unhealthy and dangerous because they combine alcohol and caffeine - and present a further concern when used by young people."
Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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Throw them in the Slammer and seize their assets!
Ask any 16 year old where to buy booze and they have a list of stores that cater to the underage, it's a disgrace. I have heard in conversation of 15 year olds buying booze repeatedly at certain stores. Can't there be more sanctions on these purveyors of death and fast bucks? We need more enforcement of the law and let’s put some of these jokers in the slammer and seize their assets! Direct the seizure money for more enforcement.
Ahhh,,,gotta the love the
Ahhh,,,gotta the love the local angles on national stories.
OUTRAGEOUS! That store has
OUTRAGEOUS! That store has been reported to the ABC board before. It is well-known in Kempsville as the place to buy alcohol if you are an underage kid. Not even a resulting death merits more than a slap on the wrist? Teens caught drinking the alcohol bought from that store face much harsher penalties. His ABC license should be revoked PERMENENTLY - from both stores! 30 day suspension? Really?? A child lost his life and another child's life has been permenently marred in part because of the store owner's depicable, callous action and he gets a spanking. UNBELIEVABLE!! Something is terribly wrong here.
ABC Power
The authority of the VABC is cumbersome,self-sustaining and stupid. Faced with a complaint, an outrage(such as here), the ABC assigns guilt arbitrarily; only occasionally do they hit the mark by accurately assigning guilt. I know of a long-ago decided case in which a miscreant(banned from a convenience store) orchestrated an incident using himself as the principal alcohol possessor to accuse and punish his bannisher which led to a 30-day alcohol-sales suspension for the store and the complainer(who was going to jail for possession) used the event to strike at his bannisher. The ABC allows no appeal and the liar was aided by the system in striking at his personal enemy.The bannisher was a US Navy Seal,working his P-T job.
appeal
They have a right to appeal.According to the artical in this one says they have 30 days.
A slap on the wrist.
A slap on the wrist. Selling alcohol to minors should result in permanent loss of ABC license, period.