Restaurant fined, owner banned from selling liquor

MILFORD, N.H. --The state has fined a Milford (New Hampshire) restaurant owner and barred him from ever having a liquor license in the state after allegations that he served drunk customers and allowed employees to drink on the job.

George Katsoulis says he was prepared to fight the fine, but is selling the restaurant and figured he would have ended up spending more in court than the three-thousand dollar fine. He says he has evidence that shows he did not sell to intoxicated patrons and says the employee was a member of a band who had a drink between sets.

The state says it pursued penalties because the case involved several complaints over a long period.