The incident at Ocean Prime, a restaurant located on Seaport Boulevard, took center stage as it involved the service of alcohol to an underage patron on March 12, 2026. The establishment’s general manager, Donald Petri, confirmed that strict policies on age verification were in place. However, a bartender had served alcohol to a young woman without checking her identification, relying instead on the presence of an older male patron who was a regular customer. This male patron, identified as Aaron Johnny, was later banned from the restaurant due to his attempts to bypass establishment policies.

Petri emphasized that the restaurant reinforced its age verification policies through regular staff meetings, referred to as “pit stops,” and had posted reminders about legal drinking ages. Despite this, Ocean Prime faced scrutiny for the oversight. The board discussed the reliability of ID scanning technology, with concerns raised over the scanner’s failure to detect the counterfeit Connecticut driver’s license presented by the minor. Board members stressed the importance of visual inspection of IDs alongside scanning, highlighting a discrepancy between the gray star on the fake ID and the gold star on legitimate Connecticut IDs.

The board also focused on the need for enhanced staff training to prevent similar incidents, especially during high-traffic periods like the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. It was suggested that establishments invest in more advanced scanning technology and that staff be trained to request backup identification when in doubt. The matter was taken under advisement for further consideration.

In another discussion, the board examined a security incident at Royale, located on Tremont Street. On January 1, 2026, a confrontation between security staff and patrons Celia Phillips Lacasse and her boyfriend, Hector Espanol, was reported. The altercation began after the couple was caught smoking marijuana inside the club. Security staff member Matthew McConnell claimed he was assaulted while attempting to remove the couple, resulting in injuries requiring medical attention. However, video evidence suggested that McConnell might have been the aggressor, a point of contention raised during the meeting.

George Khivas, representing Royale, defended the actions of the security staff, stating that the situation escalated when the couple was asked to leave due to smoking marijuana. He asserted that McConnell acted in self-defense after being struck by Espanol. The board took this matter under advisement, reflecting on the responsibilities of establishments to manage patron behavior and the adequacy of their security measures.

Another case involved Restaurant Cesaria, Inc., in Dorchester, which faced multiple violations on March 27, 2026, such as overcrowding and patron altercations. The establishment’s co-owner, Antonio Barrows, outlined measures implemented to address these issues, including an age restriction after 10 p.m. and stricter enforcement of public smoking laws. The board acknowledged these efforts and took the matter under advisement.

The meeting also addressed an incident at Dorgans Package Store, where a minor purchased alcohol using a counterfeit ID. The store’s representative argued that their ID scanning technology, which failed to detect the fake ID, posed challenges in preventing underage sales. This case highlighted the limitations of technology and the necessity for staff to be vigilant in visually verifying IDs.

Lastly, an overcrowding incident at McGonagal’s Pub during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend was discussed. The pub exceeded its legal capacity, and management acknowledged the oversight. Plans for improved patron counting procedures on busy nights were presented, with the board taking this matter under advisement.