Eight Hudson bars and restaurants are being charged with allegedly serving alcohol to a minor following a Hudson Police and State Liquor Authority detail throughout the city last Thursday, Dec. 23. The Register Star reports this morning that out of nine bars/restaurants checked, only one passing muster, authorities said. And according to HPD Lt. Richard Paolino, there were so many violations they weren’t able to hit all the establishments they originally planned to visit. Among the establishments that allegedly sold beer to the minor were: Wunderbar & Bistro, the Warren Inn, Mexican Radio, Baba Louie’s, Ca’mea, Swoon Kitchen Bar, Red Dot Bar & Restaurant and the Spotty Dog Books & Ale. The only establishment checked that didn’t sell alcohol to the minor was American Glory, according to police. “They need to ID customers,” Paolino said of bars and package stores, adding that it wasn’t just important for the bartenders, clerks and businesses, but that it helped “prevent underage drinking fatalities. We’re trying to keep people safe.”

The detail was through funding made available by Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties to help curb underage drinking through a $20,000 grant the not-for-profit organization that was awarded by the New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

The first detail, on Dec. 10, focused on package stores. Police went to 13 stores in the city and netted two alleged violators who sold alcohol to a minor, according to HPD.

Last Thursday’s detail sent a 19-year-old working with police into bars and restaurants around Hudson. Eight people ended up being charged with first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, a class A misdemeanor, and prohibited sale of alcohol, for allegedly selling the minor beer.

Those charged were Christina Bohnsack, 25, of Germantown; Rebecca M. Rogers, 32, of Livingston; Elizabeth T. Carney, 75, of Albany and Hudson residents Stephanie D. Ruff, 50; Laura T. Rogers, 46; Cassandra Cummings, 41; David Drake, 59; and Abby M. Puca, 26. All eight people will be facing charges in Hudson City Court.

Paolino said is especially important to ID customers during this time of year, he said, since college students were on holiday.

“The point is: check IDs,” he said.

The possibility of more of these kinds of details are possible. According to Mary Minahan, senior prevention educator for Catholic Charities, that agency may be getting the grant again next year.