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Porta on Kingsley Avenue is facing charges of serving alcohol to underage persons on three occasions, and the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is seeking a 60-day suspension of the establishment’s liquor license, according to a news release from the Office of the Attorney General.

The charges against Porta stem from two undercover investigations in the summer of 2012, the release stated. On June 9, the investigators arrested two 20-year-old women for consuming alcohol underage. A month later, investigators made another arrest at Porta of a 20-year-old woman.

Porta can plead guilty, not guilty or non-vult [no contest], to the charges they are facing. Should it be found guilty of the allegations, the establishment would be required to cease serving alcohol for the term of the license suspension, according to the release.

“We are aware of the allegations,” said Jim Watt, one of the owners of Porta. “Our attorney has entered a plea of not guilty and we have no further comment. We are letting the process unfold.”

Division of Alcholic Beverage Control Director Michael Halfacre said the Division vigorously pursues underage drinkers and those who provide alcohol to those under 21, as stated in the Attorney General’s news release. He also said the ABC’s “Cops in Shops” Summer Shore initiative, which provides grants for local police departments to target underage purchasers of alcohol at liquor stores, has already resulted in 42 arrests just a few weeks into the program. He noted that his agency’s detectives have conducted nearly 2,700 investigations in the past 12 months at licensed establishments in New Jersey, the release stated.

Porta is one of four restaurants with liquor licenses in the city owned by the Asbury-based Smith group.

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