Underage beer, wine sales imperil licenses at 20 out of 39 local stores

By MONROE ROARK
Staff Writer

More than half of the businesses in Fayetteville licensed to sell beer and wine are now finding those permits in jeopardy due to unlawful alcohol sales to minors.

The City Council will discuss at tonight's workshop and Monday's regular meeting whether to suspend the licenses of 20 convenience stores, grocery stores and restaurants in the city that were found in violation after a routine police sweep conducted June 21-23 of this year.

All 39 city establishments with licenses were visited by undercover “buyers” under the age of 21, accompanied by law enforcement personnel. All alcohol sales were videotaped.

The purpose of the exercise, called an “alcohol surety program” by police, is to make sure that merchants are following local and state law by asking for identification from all prospective customers and displaying their alcohol licenses properly.

In addition to the underage alcohol sales, a total of 23 employees were found to be in violation of city ordinances involving conspicuous display of alcohol permits, police said.

City ordinances in Fayetteville require that all persons wishing to purchase alcohol show ID regardless of whether they appear to be 21 or older. State codes also mandate this, and violations in both cases are misdemeanors.

In addition to the commercial ramifications for businesses that commit violations, the employees in each case who actually sell alcohol to underage customers are cited and face misdemeanor charges. Nearly all of those cases have been adjudicated in city court, police said, with most cases resulting in fines and probation.

The first citywide sweep of this kind was conducted late last year, police said. No citations were issued at that time, but all violators received warning letters and were put on notice that subsequent checks would occur.

Alcohol licenses are updated every year, and any person buying an establishment with an existing license must reapply to the city.

Having a license stripped can have serious financial repercussions. The licenses themselves usually cost several thousand dollars, and alcohol sales typically account for a large percentage of overall revenue in establishments that sell it.

Both Fayetteville and unincorporated Fayette County allow beer and wine sales. Only Peachtree City has liquor by the drink in Fayette County.

F'ville businesses charged with underage alcohol sales

Cornerstone Chevron, 95 Jeff Davis Dr. S.

Kroger at 805 Glynn St. S.

Eckerd at Hwy. 85 S.

Eckerd at 975 Hwy. 54 W.

Quickie-Fast Foods at 340 Lanier Ave. E.

Cobblestone Amoco at 775 Lanier Ave. E.

Nick's Steak House and Sports Cafe, 389 Fayette Place

Baci Italian Cuisine, 174F N. Glynn St.

Golden Chopsticks, 21 Hudson Plaza II

Rick Tanner's Original, 94 Pavilion Pkwy.

El Ranchero Mexican, 214 Banks Crossing

Quickie/Fast Foods at 760 Glynn St. N.

JMS at 610 W. Lanier Ave.

Wings & Things, 652 Jeff Davis Dr.

Pizza Hut, 650 Glynn St. N.

Pit Stop at 630 N. Glynn St.

City Cafe & Bakery, 215 S. Glynn St.

Milano's Italian, 660 N. Glynn St.

La Fiesta Mexican, 119 Banks Station

Village Cafe, 175 Banks Station