Thirsty Fox Awaits Penalty After Serving 2 Younger than 21

The owners of The Thirsty Fox, 104 E. Main St., admitted their establishment was in the wrong when it served alcohol to two underage women in October.

Edward and Samantha Stone, owners of The Thirsty Fox, pleaded their case before the St. Charles Liquor Commission on Monday afternoon, Nov. 18, 2013, admitted the complaint against them was true and offering an explanation they hope will lighten the blow of whatever punishment is meted out.

About 10:23 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2013, two young women acting on behalf of the St. Charles Police Department during a liquor compliance check, went into the bar and purchased alcoholic beverages. They were not carded.

The Stones said they haven’t had an offense at The Thirsty Fox in more than a decade, and that the infraction represented a “perfect storm” of work and distractions, as well as the doorman stepping away from the door for a few minutes. The Stones explained to the commission that they rely on the doorman to card everyone entering The Thirsty Fox.

The couple will learn what penalty they will received in a week to 10 days. They likely face a fine and hearing costs, but they also could see a temporary suspension of their liquor license.

After a brief executive session to discuss the matter, Mayor Raymond Rogina, the city’s liquor commissioner, told the Stones that the city takes underage drinking seriously and considers the violation accordingly.

But he also noted the couple’s forthrightness about their responsibility for the violation, and their willingness to change their procedures to ensure it does not happen again.

“The only other point I’d make is that while you have a doorman or doorwoman checking IDs, redundancy is not bad,” Rogina said, urging them to not rely only on the doorman to check IDs.