Watsonville restaurant’s liquor license suspended for 40 days

A Watsonville restaurant won’t be allowed to sell alcohol for the next 40 days.

State officials say El Popo Restaurant served minors on two occasions in the past year.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control posted a notice of the suspension at the Freeedom Boulevard restaurant Friday.

The suspension comes after two separate investigations involving minors drinking alcohol on the premises.

During an inspection in October 2013 by ABC and Watsonville Police, two 17-year-olds were found drinking alcohol. The restaurant also was unlawfully possessing distilled spirits.

At a second inspection in March, officers found a 20-year-old who had been served and was consuming an alcoholic beverage.

The 2013 violations resulted in a 15-day suspension and the 2014 violation for a 25-day violation, for a total of 40 days on which the restaurant may not serve alcohol.