AMHERST — A 55-day suspension of the liquor license at Panda East restaurant, which the Select Board found responsible for serving alcohol to minors two times in the spring, will take effect Wednesday.
Amherst attorney Kristi Bodin said Monday that she notified Amherst officials that her client, restaurant manager Amy Wu, will not appeal the suspension.
“This decision is based on consideration of what is best for the business and what is best for the community,” Bodin said.
While a five-day suspension was automatic for the 103 North Pleasant St. restaurant based on a previous violation last fall in which Scorpion Bowl mixed drinks were sold to 17 underage people, the additional 50 days could have been appealed to the state’s Alcohol Beverages Control Commission.
The decision means that the restaurant will not be able to serve alcohol again until June 28, missing the commencements this month at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College and Hampshire College.
The Select Board on April 21 voted unanimously to impose the license suspension after finding credible police reports about incidents in which underage people were served alcohol on the evenings of March 26 and April 8.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
