7 places fail police checks for alcohol or tobacco
Published 4:20 pm Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Employees at seven businesses in Albert Lea illegally sold alcohol or tobacco to underage decoys during compliance checks conducted by the Albert Lea Police Department this week.
The establishments that made illegal sales were Book World, Cheers Liquor, Freeborn County Co-op Oil, Korner Mart on both Front Street and West Main Street, Market Place Foods and The Cuban Island Restaurant.
The Cuban Island sold alcohol, while the remainder sold tobacco.
According to a news release, officers supervised decoys 18 to 20 years old for the alcohol checks and decoys 15 to 16 years old for the tobacco checks.
Thirty alcohol and 26 tobacco checks were conducted.
A common theme to the illegal sales was that the employees did not request an identification card from the person attempting to buy the alcohol or tobacco, police said.
Both the state driver’s license and instructional permit indicate the date the holder becomes 18. There is also an “Under 21” notation above the photo.
State law requires law enforcement to conduct tobacco compliance checks at least once per year, according to the release.
Retail clerks who sell tobacco to minors are issued citations for the first violation, which carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. A second violation by the same clerk within five years is a gross misdemeanor violation.
Additional penalties of up to $250 and a seven-day suspension of a tobacco license can be assessed to the business where the violation occurred.
Clerks found selling alcohol to underage people are charged with a gross misdemeanor, and the business where the violation occurred is subject to having its alcohol license suspended.
The Albert Lea Police Department hosts server training with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division for businesses with alcohol licenses.
The Albert Lea City Council supports a voluntary best practices program, which encourages liquor license holders to undertake practices to avoid sales to underage buyers. Businesses participating in the program are subject to modified penalties if a violation occurs.