WASHINGTON - Bars in the district caught selling alcohol to minors now face different penalties under a new law that just went into effect last month.

Under the new law, first-time offenders who sell liquor to a minor will get a waring instead of a $1,000 fine and a two-day liquor license suspension.

To qualify, the establishment can't have any other violations of the underage drinking laws in the last four years.

Now, groups like the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board are speaking out about why they are opposed to the new legislation.

Council member Jim Graham, known as a staunch enforcer of district liquor laws, says this measure gives leniency for the first time honest mistake.

"If there's any indication of egregious, calculated effort, you know to sell booze to kids, forget it we'll throw the book at those establishments," he said.

Nevertheless the D.C./Va. chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is expressing concern, saying in a statement: "we, as a community, have to send a strong and consistent message that underage alcohol use is illegal and will not be tolerated."

Constantine Stavropoulos owns several establishments in Adams Morgan including The Diner. He says the measure helps balance the law. "The egregious violators we know who they and I think a system like this will actually single them out," he said.

Frequent bar customers have mixed reactions to the new legislation. "If you lessen the penalty they are just going to do it again and again and again," noted one bar goer.

"The warning's fair. Yeah I think so think so," said Jordan Pringle, a D.C. resident.

The ABC Board believes a warning is inappropriate and gives the district one of the lightest penalties for selling to minors in the nation.

Graham says the law increases the penalties for repeat offenders and says right now, it's just a one-year trial. If it doesn't work, the law will go back to the way it was.

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