Opinion
June 3, 1991
Adjudged that the determination is confirmed and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, with costs.
The petitioner was charged with a violation of Alcoholic Beverage Control Law § 65 (1), which prohibits the sale of alcohol to persons under 21 years old. At the hearing, evidence was adduced that an employee of the petitioner delivered alcoholic beverages to an underaged police aide. The police aide was participating in a police investigation whereby he would call local liquor stores and order alcohol to be delivered to him at an apartment. The respondent New York State Liquor Authority sustained the charge against the petitioner and ordered a penalty of a deferred 15-day suspension plus a $1,000 bond forfeiture.
We find that the determination by the New York State Liquor Authority is supported by substantial evidence and must be confirmed (see, Matter of Oster v New York State Liq. Auth., 125 A.D.2d 859). Further, we find that assuming, as the petitioner contends, the defense of entrapment is available in an administrative proceeding such as this one, the petitioner has not established the merits of the defense. The conduct by the police merely afforded the petitioner an opportunity to commit the offense (see, Matter of Viloria v Sobol, 152 A.D.2d 92; Matter of Freyman v Board of Regents, 79 A.D.2d 719).
We further find that the penalty imposed is not shocking to one's sense of fairness and should not be disturbed (see, Matter of Shore Haven Lounge v New York State Liq. Auth., 37 N.Y.2d 187; Matter of Vargas v New York State Liq. Auth., 111 A.D.2d 925; Matter of Ira Wyman Inc. v New York State Liq. Auth., 170 A.D.2d 991; Matter of Heiss v Duffy, 149 A.D.2d 902). Balletta, J.P., Miller, O'Brien and Ritter, JJ., concur.