Selectmen Penalize Honolulu Restaurant with Liquor License Suspension Following Underage Incident-October 13, 1988

In a decisive disciplinary action marking the town’s first liquor license suspension in over two years, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously last night to suspend the liquor permit of the Honolulu Restaurant on Route 1.

Under the board’s ruling, restaurant manager Shue Pon Lee must surrender the establishment’s liquor license for a three-day period, effective next Tuesday through Thursday.

Police Response and Investigation

The disciplinary hearing stemmed from an incident on the evening of September 21, when Norwood police officers Maureen Murphy and Peter Curran responded to a reported disturbance at the Route 1 restaurant. Upon arrival, officers discovered an intoxicated individual in the parking lot.

The individual was identified as Daniel D’Attilio, 19, of High Street, Walpole. According to Officer Murphy’s testimony, D’Attilio admitted he was born in 1969 and conceded that he never presented identification to the bartender inside, despite spending part of the evening drinking with friends.

Board Hearing and Defenses

Appearing before the selectmen, bartender Frank Chan defended his practices, asserting that he consistently checks patrons for identification. However, the board expressed strong skepticism regarding his claim.

“He may say that, but the police officers know what they were doing,” stated Selectman John Kinnaly. “There is no doubt in my mind that the man was in there, there was no I.D., and he was a minor.”

Although no direct eyewitnesses stepped forward to testify that D’Attilio was actively served alcohol by the staff, Police Chief George DiBlasi argued that the surrounding circumstantial evidence was more than sufficient to establish culpability. Chief DiBlasi noted that this was the Honolulu Restaurant’s first recorded liquor infraction.

Town Manager John Carroll confirmed the rarity of the penalty, noting that selectmen had not suspended any local liquor license in at least two years.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger