Representatives from Mayflower Liquors, located at 3150 Cranberry Highway in East Wareham, received harsh words but lighter punishment during a hearing in front of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday to explain an offense of selling alcohol to a minor earlier in the year.

Selectman Steve Holmes used the possible scenario of a drunk driving accident to explain why he considered the problem of selling alcohol to minors so serious.

"I would hate to tell a kid's mother that [her child] was killed in a car accident because [somebody] bought beer in Wareham," said Holmes.

The Board debated but ultimately decided to suspend Mayflower's license to sell liquor for seven days beginning on the Tuesday following Labor Day in September.

The Board took into consideration that suspending the liquor store's license to sell alcohol during the summer could significantly impact the owners' business.

Selectmen also took into consideration that representatives from Mayflower Liquors admitted fault, apologized to the board, and had begun taking measures, such as putting up signs, requiring alcohol service training for its management and employees, and checking the IDs of every person who comes in the store to prevent a similar occurance from happening again.

"I appreciate that you addressed it in a timely manner," said Selectman Ellen Begley.

Mayflower Liquors committed the offense on April 17 of this year, according to town attorney Richard Bowen. The liquor store had committed a previous offense of selling alcohol to a minor on May 30, 2009, and received a three-day suspension of its license for that offense.

Because this year's offense was the second offense in 3 years, Bowen said, the board had the liberty to suspend their license from anywhere between 1 to 10 days.

Louis Cassis, the attorney representing Mayflower Liquors and its owner, Monica Johar, said that he and his client regretted the mistake.

"Obviously, we regret this very much," said Cassis. "Twice in three years is really unacceptable."

Selectman Cara Winslow made an initial motion to suspend their license to sell alcohol for five days following Labor Day, but the Board thought that it was too short in light of the fact that five days was not even double the three day suspension for the previous offense in 2009.

"I don't think that drives the point home," said Holmes. "We didn't drive the point home the last time," Holmes said in reference to the previous suspension.

Holmes also added that he did not believe the preventative measures taken by Mayflower Liquors were a reason to be lenient on the punishment.

"All the signs in the world aren't going to stop" the sale of alcohol to minors, said Holmes. "This is a one-on-one conversation with a customer. The only thing that is going to solve this is if the clerk asks the question, 'let me see your ID,'" said Holmes.

Selectman Peter Teitelbaum cautioned against any repeat offenses in the future.

"Selling alcohol in the Town of Wareham is a privilege, and as you can see with that privilege comes certain responsibilities," said Teitelbaum. "With respect to alcohol being sold to a minor, we certainly expect to never see you here again."