ROCHESTER – Lloyd’s Market will have to go one day without selling any alcohol after a liquor license violation in December. 

Det. Donald Kemmett was doing his annual alcohol compliance check at Lloyd’s when he found an employee had sold alcohol to a minor. A verbal warning was issued that day and then in writing a few days later. 

Lloyd’s owner Daniel Costa was in front of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night for a public hearing on the matter. 

“First off I want to apologize,” Costa said. “I take full responsibility. I take this very seriously. When I took over the first thing I did was implement tobacco and alcohol policies.”

Police Chief Robert Small said in previous cases, businesses without any prior violations in the previous two years would be subject to a loss of license on a weekday, Monday-Thursday, for one day. 

Small noted that there were no previous violations under Costa’s ownership.

“It was a new hire who did it, and she had worked at a liquor store 15 years prior to that,” Costa said. “I have her signature on the [tobacco and alcohol] policies to show I did go over it with her. She was terminated that day.”

The Board of Selectmen agreed with Small that because it was the fist violation, a one-day license suspension would suffice. The day can be chosen by the business owner any day on a Monday-Thursday within 30 days of the hearing, but the Board of Selectmen chose March 5 for Costa.

Costa will have to separate the alcohol from the rest of the store, either by covering it with a sheet or putting caution tape across it. He does not have to post that he’s not selling alcohol that day unless he chooses to for convenience.

Neighbor Dave Watling spoke up at the hearing to vouch for Costa.

“He runs a good business, it’s not a sloppy operation,” he said. “I just wanted to give moral support.”

Costa reiterated his regrets for the incidence.

“It should never happen, it just can’t happen,” he said. “I’m constantly telling my employees to card. There’s no excuse.”