Re: Alcohol sales in Fayetteville.

I am a retired human resource professional, having moved here to Fayetteville several years ago. I retired from a division of Kroger in Colorado; prior to that I worked for a grocery chain in California that also sold alcoholic beverages.

Problems arising from improper alcohol sales almost always involved employees who either 1) did not take serious the employers policies, and local city, county, or state laws; 2) engaged in an improper sale because it was a friend; 3) was angry at the employer or a supervisor; 4) was flirting or getting cute with a customer.

In Colorado, the most effective thing that was done to correct the problem was for the police to arrest and cite the employees, requiring their appearances in court, and in most cases a fine. Where the employer was determined not to have disseminated the applicable laws to the employee, or did not initiate due diligence in monitoring alcohol sales, it also would be subject to discipline, but never was a license suspended for a single infraction, considering the hundreds of sales per day that are occurring properly.

It seems in Fayetteville the employer is paying the full price for all actions of its employees, without the city holding the employees legally responsible. Considering there are sometimes both non-caring and defiant employees out there, let's give these quality employers a break. Believe me, when an employee is marched out of the store, or restaurant in handcuffs, a lesson is learned real quick by all.

Edward Behlke

Fayetteville

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