4 out of 15 Liquor Licensees Sell Alcohol to a Minor

Pierce County - Liquor Control Board enforcement officers conducted 15 compliance checks in Pierce County on Saturday, Aug. 7.  During the compliance checks, an 18, 19 or 20 year old will enter a restaurant, tavern, or grocery store to attempt to buy alcohol.  Of the 15 businesses checked the following four businesses sold alcohol to a minor:

• Golden Food Mart, 9815 Golden Givens Road, Tacoma

• Mustard Seed Market & Deli, 10323 Portland Ave., Tacoma
• PC Deli Mart, 3025 Steilacoom Blvd., Steilacoom
• Port Deli Mart, 4130 E. 11th St., Tacoma

The Board commends the following business for passing the Aug. 7 compliance checks:

• Carroll’s Corner, 10118 224^th St. E., Graham

• Hassan Mini Mart, 11908 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
• MJ Mart, 3004 112^th St. E., Tacoma
• Midland Food Center, 1701 E. 99^th St., Tacoma
• Mountain Highway Gas & Deli, 19614 Mountain Highway E., Spanaway
• OK Grocery,  22208 Mountain Highway E. Spanaway
• Pacific Smoke & Grocery, 11812 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma
• Portland Avenue Chevron, 10915 Portland Ave. E., Tacoma
• Puyallup Shell & Subway, 347 S. Meridian St., Puyallup
• Terry’s Corner Grocery, 8502 Golden Given Road, Tacoma
• Willow’s Union 76, 11202 Pacific Ave., Tacoma

 Clerks who sell alcohol to a minor receive a criminal citation.  Liquor licensees receive either an administrative violation notice (AVN) or a written warning from the Liquor Control Board based on past offenses. 

The first time AVN penalty for selling alcohol to a minor is a five-day suspension or a $500 fine, a second offense is a 7-day suspension with no monetary option, a third offense is a 30-day suspension with no monetary option, and a fourth offense is a license cancellation.

Note to Editor: Members of the public who have concerns or complaints regarding alcohol sales to minors can contact the Liquor Control Board’s toll free tip line at 1-888-838-3956.

For more information, please contact Tricia Currier.