With new authority to issue alcohol licenses to local theaters, selectmen on Monday, July 16, voted, 4-1, to support a beer and wine license for the Capitol Theatre after some neighbors objected.
Voting in favor were Kevin Greeley, Joseph Curro Dan Dunn and Steven Byrne. Diane Mahon, as she has before on liquor issues, opposed it.
The East Arlington venue now joins the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, which already had such a license. Both are owned by Richard Fraiman.
In a report by Boston.com, Mahon expressed concern about issuing such license to a theater that teens use.
Fraiman said alcohol will be served in certain parts of the theater and customers will be asked for identification to prove they are of legal age.
In an issue related to alcohol, four Arlington restaurants were identified as serving alcohol to minors during an undercover operation by police in late May.
Kathmandu Spice, Sabzi, Sweet Chili and Manna Sushi all served beer to the minors who were working with police on Wednesday, May 30, without asking for ID, according to the police report. For all four restaurants, it was a first offense.
The owners of Kathmandu Spice, Sabzi and Sweet Chili appeared before the selectmen on July 16 and took responsibility.
The three restaurants had their alcohol licenses suspended for three days. The restaurants will serve their suspensions midweek in September.
The restaurants will remain open during the suspensions, but they will not be allowed to serve alcohol.
The board postponed action against Manna Sushi until its next meeting, because the owner or an attorney did not attend the meeting.
Other restaurants and liquor stores in Arlington faced the same test and did not serve minors.
