A 30-day liquor license suspension for the Jug Shop on Main St. has been postponed by Selectmen pending the outcome of an appeal hearing by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission on Dec. 6.

The Jug Shop’s alcohol license was originally set to be suspended from Dec. 2 to Jan. 2 after owner Adelaide Deponte, of Mansfield, sold the same 19-year-old undercover agent a six-pack of Budweiser on July 26 and again on July 31.

Wareham Police conducted identification compliance checks of all the town’s liquor stores this summer. In total, four failed the initial check, but the Jug Shop was the only store to fail the second check.

The 30-day suspension was originally handed down by the Board of Selectmen during their Sept. 11 meeting with Deponte admitting to the sale and apologizing.

“The first time I was hurt, and I was very sick about it, and the second time I couldn’t believe it happened again to me,” Deponte said. “The only thing I can say is we’re still doing our best to not do it again.”

Deponte’s appeal to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission will determine if the suspension put in place by Selectmen stands or if the punishment is too harsh. Should they chose, the commission has the power to modify the suspension accordingly. 

“If our ruling is overturned four days after the suspension starts, then it could be a problem for us,” explained Selectman Alan Slavin.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission provides uniform control over all sales, transportation, possession, purchasing and manufacturing of alcohol in the state.

Slavin added that should the board’s decision be upheld on Dec. 6, then the 30-day suspension will likely begin on Dec. 7.

“We don’t want a lawsuit on our hands,” Slavin said. “So the cleanest way to go about this is to wait.”