City Council says business will be shut down if employees sell alcohol to minors

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The Mobile City Council is sending a strong message to one new business owner.

The council approved a liquor license for Jamil Alfqahaa's convenience store on Springhill Avenue, but he could soon be out of business if his employees are caught selling liquor to a minor.

Council members imposed the stipulation Tuesday because of numerous violations at the site in the recent past. 

Alfqahaa, whose lawyer was also at the meeting, told the council he just bought the business four months ago, and asked that he not be punished for the past owners' violations. 

Council member Fred Richardson spoke to the business owner soon after he bought the business and said the city will not tolerate any more violations from the location.

He said the last violation at the location brought it to seven at this location.

"So for us to say we just need to be nice to those people and let them sell liquor to another minor, and let them go kill themselves, we're not doing that, we're not doing that. We are serious, and we're trying to send a message," she said.

Richardson said the council could have turned the business down for the license outright, but the city needs the money.

"We're giving them another chance, a last chance, but next time we're not going after his liquor license, we're closing his business down," Richardson said.

After the meeting, Alfqahaa said the council's words put a lot of pressure on him.

"But I don't have no other choice I have to handle my business. I mean I don't want loose all my business. At least I'm going to try," Alfqahaa said.

His attorney, Ed Blount, said the business owner has taken "extraordinary" measures to comply with the law.

"All of his employees are certified by the ABC Board. He just got new software in it's called "Legal Age".  It's a scanning software it scans drivers licenses in the state and out of state," Blount said.

Blount said the software can tell whether an ID is fake, or if the person is underage.

"It's a tremendous aid to complying with the laws on the sell of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products," he said.

Alfqahaa intends to fully comply from here on out.

"We're happy that the city council has approved his liquor license, and he'll prove to the City of Mobile that he'll be a good merchant and vendor,"  Blount said.