In a recent compliance check of 24 restaurants, bars and gas stations throughout Logan County that sell or serve alcohol, four sold to underage buyers for law enforcement.
Three agencies completed the alcohol compliance check with two under age female volunteers. The Oklahoma Alcohol Beverage Law Enforcement (ABLE) Commission, PreventionWorkz and Logan County Sheriff’s Office performed the operation.
The compliance check took place on July 13.
The teenagers completed an age perception test from 10 random people. The estimated age of the volunteers were 17 and 19-years-old.
The volunteers walked into the businesses with “buy money” and for their safety were joined by undercover agents from ABLE and sheriff’s office. Once a purchase and sale was completed, the volunteers were escorted to a vehicle where a member of PreventionWorkz awaited while officers went back inside the business.
The compliance check saw two businesses fail in the first three checks, including the Tap Room 223 (223 N. Division) and Crescent Mart Service (2151 N. State Highway 74).
The next five businesses denied sales to the teenagers, who were asked for identification and denied. Two of three next business, however, allowed alcoholic sales at Marks Short Stop (2915 W. Waterloo Road) and Mac’s Corner (4523 W. Waterloo Road).
The night finished with 13 consecutive no sales. Majority of those coming in the Guthrie area.
In the four failed checks, three of the four employees failed to ask for identification. One clerk requested identification from the teenager, but still allowed the sale of an alcoholic beverage despite checking the driver’s license.
One clerk told a deputy she was “in a rush” while another said “I was busy” as to why they did not ask for identification and ultimately making the sale.
The four employees, who sold alcohol to the minors, were cited on the spot and given a court date. Each were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. If found guilty, the crime is punishable up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.
One person pleaded guilty to the charge and was ordered to pay $500, all costs and fees and perform 20 hours of community services. Two others have pleaded not guilty while the fourth person has yet to make a formal appearance.
For the 20 businesses that refused to sale, deputies and the ABLE agent went back into the businesses and commended the employees for going through the correct procedures and not allowing the sale.
A sheriff’s spokesperson said they were proud of the businesses who are making the effort to check I.D. and deny alcohol sales to underage people. Sheriff officials went on to say that if any underage person attempts to purchase alcohol, they are encouraged to call law enforcement.
List of business who refused sale to minors, include Rainbow Gas, Roadhouse Bar & Grill, Four Corners, Coyote Creek Club, Prime Foods (Cashion), Waterloo Corner, Bootleggers, Petty’s Pit Stop, Woodcrest Tavern, Rock-A-Way, AJ’s Mini Mart, Star Stop, Loves (south), Loves (east), Valero’s, Guthrie Travel Center, Loves Travel Stop, JC’s, Blowout and Wal-Mart.
The mission of the ABLE Commission is to protect the public welfare and interest in the enforcement of the laws pertaining to alcoholic beverages, charity games and youth access to tobacco.
PreventionWorkz has been the regional Area Prevention Resource Center (APRC), conducting comprehensive research based alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention for the past 20 years. PreventionWorkz serves Grant, Garfield, Kingfisher, Major, Alfalfa, and Logan counties with federal prevention block grant funds contracted through the Oklahoma Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
PreventioonWorkz offers ongoing education for responsible service and sales of responsible beverages. For more visit their website.
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