The Honolulu Jaycees is fighting a charge that it allowed a minor to drink a beer at its 50th State Fair in June.

The nonprofit community group is accused of violating the law that prohibits the sale or consumption of an alcoholic beverage by anyone under 21. The incident allegedly occurred in the fair's Beer Garden on June 15.

Representatives from the Jaycees pleaded not guilty to the charge at the Honolulu Liquor Commission's weekly meeting Thursday. The commission took no action and continued the adjudication hearing to a yet-to-be-determined date.

If found guilty of the charge, the Jaycees could face a fine and the possibility of a denial of future licenses to run the Beer Garden.

After the hearing, Jaycees president Ryan Yamashiro defended the group, saying his organization did not sell or provide the beer to the minor. Yamashiro said the minor was with a person who was legally sold a beer and the minor grabbed the cup and took a drink.

Yamashiro said he was supervising the sales that night along with two volunteers and that the incident happened so fast that no one could react in time.

"I feel we did as much as we could. We did everything within our power to have that safe environment. It happened too fast," he said.

The Jaycees sponsors the annual 50th State Fair at Aloha Stadium that features food, rides, games and entertainment.

OTHER LIQUOR COMMISSION ACTIONS

The commission took the following actions at its Thursday meeting: