Shoreline police cited five business clerks for selling liquor to a minor in a liquor sting conducted Dec. 30, said Captain Clem Rusk..
Police went to all the stores that sell beer and wine in Shoreline with an underage volunteer and an undercover police officer. The minor attempted to buy alcohol, and when asked for identification, showed valid ID clearly showing she was underage to purchase alcohol.
“Five of the 17 stores we went to sold to our underage operative,” Rusk said.
That number is down from three years ago, when closer to 50 percent of the stores sold to a minor in a similar sting.
Rusk attributes the decline to successful education and outreach.
“We and the liquor board have conduced strong outreach, providing increased enforcement and education,” Rusk said.
Four of the five clerks that were caught selling to the minor, actually asked to see her ID, but still sold to her. The five clerks that did sell to the minor were ticketed by police, and their businesses face a graduated penalty. The liquor board could send the store a warning letter, require a monetary fine, or require suspension or revocation of their license, Rusk said.
“The stores we went into that told our minor they wouldn’t sell to her, we plan to send a letter congratulating and thanking them,” he said.
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