GREENVILLE, Maine (AP) — Patrons of the Black Frog Restaurant in Greenville will no longer score a free Skinny Dip sandwich for plunging naked into Moosehead Lake.

Owner Leigh Turner decided Thursday to end the restaurant's giveaway of a sliced prime rib on baguette after the Board of Selectmen voted the night before to deny his application to renew his liquor license.

Selectmen noted that they would have no problem granting the license if the naked plunge promotion were removed.

Police had gotten several complaints about patrons diving in the buff from the restaurant's dock. Three people who received summonses for indecent conduct for such activity this summer have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

In recommending the license denial, Police Chief Scott MacMaster noted that indecent conduct is a misdemeanor in the same classification as driving after suspension, disorderly conduct, engaging in prostitution and harassment.

"If any of these were going on at a licensed establishment in town and we received complaints on it or we heard about it, I would come to you with the same recommendation not to approve the liquor license," he said.

Although Turner's staff would canvass patrons to ensure no one would be offended by a naked plunge, MacMaster said the jumps were observed by others on the boardwalk or while cruising on the excursion boat Katahdin.

Town Manager John Simko noted that stories about the naked divers were carried worldwide and that he and MacMaster have been vilified on the Internet.

People have the perception that "we're the bad guys and the town is keeping small business down," Simko said, but the rest of the world fails to recognize the restaurant's proximity to public places.

Turner said he was "shocked" at the board's action, but would amend the menu offering to eliminate the skinny dipping giveway in order to get his license renewed.

"That's a no-brainer," he said.

___

Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com