The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has suspended the license of a southern Oregon bar that violated restrictions meant to stem the spread of coronavirus, authorities say.

Cave Junction’s Sportsman Tavern is the first Oregon establishment to have its license suspended for allegedly defying an executive order that, among other mandates, bans on-premise consumption of food or drink.

The suspension was handed down Friday, the day after an Oregon Liquor Control Commission inspector checked out an email tip from a “concerned citizen” who noticed activity at the bar, according to agency spokesman Mark Pettinger.

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The inspector discreetly parked and observed people going in and out of the building, Pettinger said. The inspector went inside, Pettinger said, and there were drinks at the bar.

Owner Kim Sanders told The Associated Press the bar hasn’t been open, he wasn’t trying to violate Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order and that he plans to challenge the license suspension.

“We are law-abiding citizens,” he told the Associated Press, noting that when the inspector arrived, his employees were done for the day, sitting apart and having pizza and a drink. “I’m trying to go by this (order) and I dearly, dearly care about people. I would never try to do anything that would hurt anybody.”

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has investigated 59 complaints of establishments allegedly violating Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order since March 15, Pettinger said.

In nearly all cases, the establishments were closed or serving food-to-go when inspectors arrived, Pettinger said.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

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