Dem candidate for NY Gov, under investigation for serving beer to minors at campaign

[e-brake]

Liquor Authority investigates Spitzer barbecue - Newsday.com

Liquor Authority investigates Spitzer barbecue

September 7, 2006, 11:06 PM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The State Liquor Authority is investigating whether alcohol was served to minors at a barbecue Eliot Spitzer's campaign for governor held for supporters at the state fair last week.

The agency received complaints that alcohol was served to minors at the Aug. 31 event, said authority spokesman Bill Crowley. The authority was also investigating a potential violation of a law prohibiting unlimited alcohol offerings at public events, he told the Syracuse Post-Standard.

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Spitzer, the Democratic state attorney general, and his campaign would not be liable for any violations.

Grand Street Sales, which served the alcohol at the event, would be liable, Crowley said. Gary Bobbett, the company's owner, is a longtime Democratic supporter.

"Any suggestion that we were serving alcohol to minors is simply false," said Spitzer campaign spokeswoman Christine Anderson.

She added that the barbecue was an invitation-only _ nonpublic _ event.

The authority was trying to determine if members of the public were "asked to come and told there were free drinks," Crowley said.

Spitzer officials voluntarily shut down the party and poured out several pre-poured the beers after they were alerted to the incident, police said.

Anderson said the party was already being shut down and the beers were spotted 10 minutes before the scheduled end of the barbecue.