Last

month's suspension of Fayetteville city alcohol losses is

causing a major hurt at the cash register for some of

Fayette's finer eating establishments.

The city

pulled the licenses after an undercover operation

discovered several restaurants and stores selling beer

and wine to minors.

One of the

restaurants feeling the biggest effects is the City Cafe.

"We've

had about a 20 percent drop in sales," said owner

Jorg Schatte.

Schatte

said the restaurant tries everything possible to prevent

underage alcohol sales, including posting a notice for

all employees to see.

Schatte

said he's put his life savings into the restaurant and

really doesn't know anything else he can do to prevent

underage sales.

"It

wasn't done intentionally. Our clientele is not school

kids,' he said.

Across town

at the Village Cafe, owner Susan Boutier is seeing a

similar loss in revenue. In a letter to The Citizen,

Boutier said the suspension of her license has caused

great strain on the business.

"There

is only so much a small business owner like myself can

do. This ruined Christmas for my family, and any profit

that we might have made this year must be put into

safekeeping for January. It is a bitter pill,' she wrote.

Not only

has the restaurant suffered, but also the employee who

sold the alcohol illegally, she added.

"This

unfortunate error in judgement cost her dearly. She was

charged with a misdemeanor, paid a fine of $750, is on

probation for a year, can no longer be a server in any

establishment that sells alcohol in the city of

Fayetteville, and has a criminal record. How much is

enough?" she said.

The

restaurants will be allowed to start selling alcohol

Feb.1.