Boehme Receives Citation After Beer Sold To Underage TABC Operative

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has issued Edloe Street Deli owner George Boehme a misdemeanor citation for reportedly selling a beer to a minor.
Boehme, who is also a West University Place city councilman, was issued the citation Thursday evening after a minor, working as an undercover agent for the TABC, was served a beer in the restaurant.
In a statement released today, Boehme admitted the mistake, saying he asked for the male operative’s driver’s license, but then miscalculated the age.
“I asked the TABC employee for his driver’s license. After taking and viewing the TABC employee’s driver license, I incorrectly thought the TABC employee was over 21 years of age,” Boehme said. “TABC agents then cited the Edloe Street Cafe and Deli for a liquor license violation and ticketed me for serving alcohol to a minor.”
Despite being ticketed, Boehme complimented the state officers’ for their professionalism.
“The TABC agents were extremely professional and I wholeheartedly support the agents’ efforts to curb underage drinking. The agents said they had already visited more that 20 bars and restaurants that day,” he said.
Boehme also stressed it was never his intent to serve the alcohol to a minor, and that was evidenced by his asking for a driver’s license. He also said he regretted the mistake.
“I did fall short in my examination of the driver’s license and I regret that very much. The TABC agents gave me a useful tip on how to identify an underage license by its portrait orientation rather the landscape orientation of an adult license,” Boehme noted.
He also said he was making changes to avoid making any future miscalculations of customers’ ages.
“Going forward, all managers of Edloe Street Cafe and Deli immediately will receive instruction on identifying underage drivers licenses including the posting of the latest legal date on the cash register (before this date 1989). This whole matter reinforces the need for all people serving and selling alcohol to be forever vigilant because good intentions alone will not keep alcohol out of the hands of minors,” Boehme said. “I am proof that good intentions are not enough; after possession there must be careful examination of the driver’s license to make sure the person is over 21. This mistake was mine, and mine alone.
He said the restaurant would be addressing the administrative citation from the TABC over the next few months and he would resolve the citation against him in county court.
Calling the incident “a painful lesson for me,” Boehme also pledged to “leave no stone unturned” in assuring no minor is ever again served an alcoholic beverage in his restaurant.
The complete text of Boehme’s statement is as follows:
“Last night, September 2, an undercover and underage employee of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission entered the Edloe Street Cafe and Deli to purchase a beer.
“I asked the TABC employee for his driver’s license. After taking and viewing the TABC employee’s driver license, I incorrectly thought the TABC employee was over 21 years of age. TABC agents then cited the Edloe Street Cafe and Deli for a liquor license violation and ticketed me for serving alcohol to a minor. The TABC agents were extremely professional and I wholeheartedly support the agents’ efforts to curb underage drinking. The agents said they had already visited more that 20 bars and restaurants that day.
“It was clearly never my intent to serve alcohol to a minor and that’s why I asked for the TABC employee’s driver’s license. But I did fall short in my examination of the driver’s license and I regret that very much. The TABC agents gave me a useful tip on how to identify an underage license by its portrait orientation rather the landscape orientation of an adult license. Going forward, all managers of Edloe Street Cafe and Deli immediately will receive instruction on identifying underage drivers licenses including the posting of the latest legal date on the cash register (before this date 1989). This whole matter reinforces the need for all people serving and selling alcohol to be forever vigilant because good intentions alone will not keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.
“I am proof that good intentions are not enough; after possession there must be careful examination of the driver’s license to make sure the person is over 21. This mistake was mine, and mine alone. Edloe Street Cafe and Deli will be addressing the administrative citation from the TABC over the next few months. Additionally, I will be resolving my matter in a Harris County court.
“This has been a painful lesson for me, and I am very sorry that it happened. I make a personal pledge that I will leave no stone unturned in assuring that a minor will NEVER again be served alcohol as long as I am an owner of Edloe Street Cafe and Deli. The TABC agents were at all times very professional and I compliment the TABC’s role in the battle against underage drinking.”