Fourteen Grand Valley businesses were cited for selling alcohol to minors during a two-day sting conducted by local law enforcement this weekend.
Sixteen law enforcement officers accompanied by 10 minors attempted to purchase alcohol at every business with a liquor license in Mesa County.
A first-time offense usually results in a fine of $500 to $5,000, according to the Grand Junction Police Department.
Owners of cited businesses will appear for hearings in front of a liquor board to determine whether the business will face any sanctions.
The undercover minors who attempted to purchase alcohol told business employees they did not have their identification.
“If a lot of businesses would have taken it one step further and asked for their birthdates, it could have saved them,” said spokeswoman Kate Porras of the Grand Junction Police Department.
Minors who were questioned gave truthful answers about their birthdates, Porras said.
Officers from the Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Department and the Colorado Department of Revenue conducted the sting. The effort was paid for through a $45,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice program Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws.
Businesses netted in the sting:
• Pizza Hut, 601 North First St.
• Brass Rail, 476 28 Road
• C&F Food Store, 2847 North Ave.
• College Liquors, 1133 Patterson Road
• Rite Aid, 1834 N. 12th St.
• Last Chance Liquors, 1203 Pitkin Ave.
• Monument Village Liquors, 2148 Broadway
• Bookcliff Liquors, 3026 F Road
• The Stadium Sports Bar, 3210 Interstate 70 Business Loop
• Stop ‘N Save, 3223 F Road
• Fruitvale Liquors, 505 30 Road
• Family Food Town Inc. 112 W. Third St., Palisade
• Palisade Brewery, 200 Peach Ave.
• Jackalope Liquors, 404 Jurassic Ave. Unit B, Fruita
Email AMY HAMILTON
Comments
By flintstone
Nov 14, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
shame on the brass rail
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