Downtown restaurant accused of violating alcohol laws – The Lafayette

Mesa Modern Mexican, a restaurant in downtown Easton, Pennsylvania, was cited in August by the Pennsylvania Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for an alleged liquor law violation, according to a Sept. 12 Morning Call article.

Mesa was one of three Lehigh Valley facilities mentioned in the article. The violation is based on the fact that members of Mesa's management did not complete a necessary training program within the required time frame.

According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which regulates the alcohol industry in Pennsylvania, any newly appointed manager at an establishment that sells alcohol must complete the Responsible Alcohol Management Program. The program must be completed within 180 days of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's approval of the appointment.

“If that training is not done, the Liquor Control Board notifies us – the State Police Bureau of Liquor Enforcement – and we initiate an investigation,” said Paul Smith, enforcement officer and supervisor of the State Police Bureau of Liquor Enforcement.

“If they don't complete the training within six months, their liquor license will be revoked because they didn't have their board-approved manager attend the training,” he continued. “Once they get that summons, they can either get a hearing or basically plead guilty, which is called a waiver in this industry.”

According to The Morning Call, fines for minor violations typically range from $50 to $1,000, but can be as high as $5,000 for more serious offenses. Smith says fines for violations of this type imposed on Mesa are typically around $200.

Some students believe the alleged violation will have no impact on the restaurant's business.

“I haven’t heard anything about it at all,” Marc Dawson (senior class of ’27) said of Mesa’s violations.

Dawson stressed that he was not I think the reputation of the restaurant on campus would suffer.

Mary Romashchenko (class of '27), who occasionally travels to Mesa with friends, agreed.

“I don’t drink and as long as the violations don’t affect me, I don’t really care,” Romashchenko said.

The owners and management of Mesa Modern Mexican could not be reached for comment.