The popular Circuit avenue bar Ritz Cafe was ordered to suspend operations this past week, part of a 20-day penalty meted out this summer for serving alcohol to minors. This is the Ritz Cafe’s fifth violation since 2000 from the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, the state entity that regulates and approves alcohol licenses.

Jon Carlisle, a spokesman for the state treasurer’s office, which oversees the beverage control commission, said the manager of the bar, Janet King, initially asked to pay a monetary fine rather than suspend operations for 20 days. “We denied that [request] based on their past history, and said that they should start their 20 days on Nov. 20 of 2011, ending on Dec. 19, 2011,” Mr. Calisle said.

Ms. King then countered that closing during the holiday season would negatively impact the bar’s employees. The commission agreed to divide the 20-day suspension into two installments, one 10-day period from Jan. 2 to Jan. 11, and another 10-day period from Feb. 15 to Feb. 24.

Despite multiple violations, Mr. Carlisle said the bar was unlikely to encounter difficulty when renewing its annual liquor license.

“After they serve their penalty it does not have an impact on their license renewal process,” said Mr. Carlisle. “But certainly with establishments that have a track record of violations we keep a very close eye on them,” he said. The latest infraction was discovered during an undercover compliance check late this summer.

Ms. King declined comment yesterday.