With prom and summer vacations just around the corner, law enforcement officials nationwide strive to make sure establishments with liquor licenses don’t sell to minors. Not everyone gets the message, though.
Two stores in Springfield Township sold alcohol to a minor during a liquor inspection conducted by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department substation on May 8.
A 17-year-old volunteer working with Sergeant Mark Gardner and a detective arrived at seven area stores, selecting alcohol and taking it to the counter. The volunteer produced identification if asked.
‘We did seven stores and two got caught. On that scale it’s pretty good. We used a 17-year-old decoy and went in there like anyone else,? said Gardner.
According to Gardner, one of the stores failed to ask for identification from the minor, while the other asked for identification, but sold the alcohol to the minor anyway.
The operation was spurred on by a complaint received by Gardner from the Liquor Control Commission on stores in Springfield Township and a resident complaint. Gardner also felt the need to make area stores aware of not selling alcohol to minors with prom and other spring events around the corner.
‘I would like to do it more, but that depends on time and how things go. If we went three times a year that would be great,? said Gardner. ‘We didn’t do the bars this time, just focused on grocery and party stores.?
Fines for selling alcohol to a minor can be as high as $1,000 and multiple offenses can jeopardize the liquor license for an establishment, states a brochure posted on line by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MCLL) at www.michigan.gov.
The MLCC provides the following contact information to report underage sales and service: www.reportunder21.com or 1-866-893-2121.