Seven Skokie restaurants recently failed compliance checks for selling alcohol to underage patrons, according to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.
In a news release issued Monday, the commission listed the seven restaurants alleged to have violated the law, along five other Skokie businesses that passed the undercover test. Commission officials said the operation was conducted Nov. 8 in conjunction with the Skokie Police Department.
“This report is a result of ongoing undercover and cooperative law enforcement enhancement operations conducted by agents of the Illinois Liquor Commission, local law enforcement officials and underage participants recruited from area high schools and colleges,” according to the release.
Commission officials said teams randomly visit liquor stores, restaurants and bars in communities in Illinois to check for ongoing compliance with state laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to anyone under age 21.
According to the release, Skokie restaurants that allegedly failed the test included the Tilted Kilt, 7070 Carpenter Road; Real Urban Barbecue, 5238 Touhy Ave.; Walmart Supercenter, 3626 Touhy; the Broiler Shrimp & Crawfish, 3445 Dempster St.; Austin Liquors, 3505 Dempster; Skokie House, 7887 Lincoln Ave.; and the Village Inn, 8050 Lincoln.
Businesses in Skokie said to have passed the undercover test included Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 7020 Carpenter; Red Robin America’s Gourmet, 7050 Carpenter; Holiday Inn Chicago-Skokie, 5300 Touhy; Mariano’s, 3358 Touhy; and Longhorn Steakhouse, 3300 Touhy.
Skokie leaders will soon meet with each business cited, according to village officials. Consequences can range from fines to license suspension, they said.
Terry Horstman, spokesman for the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, said the state’s Liquor Control Act gives the commission discretion to impose fines, suspensions, or revocations within limits upon consideration of facts.
Establishments found to be in violation of the underage compliance check go before an administrative law judge for first and second offenses, he said. The judge makes a recommendation to the commission, which gets the final say.
Horstman said first-time offenders can receive a $500 fine or a one day liquor license suspension. Second-time offenders within the same year can receive a fine of $1,000 to $3,500 and a one-to-five-day liquor license suspension, he said.
Four repeat offenses in the first or second year can result in revocation of an establishment’s state liquor license, he said.
None of the seven Skokie businesses cited were repeat violators within the same year, according to the commission.
Previous public reports from the commission indicate this was Skokie’s first inspection this year, but other towns in the area have been inspected — some twice — in 2017.
Unlike Skokie, the majority of businesses during each testing period in nearby towns passed compliance checks, according to commission reports.
In October, the commission reported 76 businesses were tested in Illinois and nine failed to comply with liquor control laws. Included in the testing was Evanston, where 20 establishments were tested and one — The Stained Glass restaurant at 1735 Benson Ave. — failed, the commission reported.
In September , the commission reported that 65 businesses were tested for underage liquor sales and five failed although none tested were in nearby areas.
In August the commission tested 84 businesses throughout the state and 13 were cited for violations of liquor control laws, according to its reports.
Sixteen businesses in Evanston were part of that inspection and none failed the compliance check, the commission report shows.
Lincolnwood was also included in the August report. Fifteen businesses were tested and three were found in violation of liquor control laws. They included Chipotle Mexican Grill, 7150 McCormick Blvd.; Red Lobster, 3301 Touhy Ave., which had one prior violation; and CVS Pharmacy, 3950 Devon Ave.
The last time Morton Grove establishments were tested was in May, according to the commission. Two businesses out of 15 failed liquor control laws: Betty’s Bistro, 7921 Golf Road and Mazalae Restaurant, 9216 Waukegan Road, according to the commission’s report.
Twitter: @SKReview_Mike