February 15, 2005
Spokane
– Washington
State Liquor Control Board enforcement officers conducted 10 liquor
law compliance checks at Spokane grocery stores on Feb. 10, and half
of the businesses checked sold alcohol to an underage person employed
by the Board.
During compliance checks, an 18-, 19- or 20-year old operative enters
a restaurant, tavern, or grocery store to attempt to buy alcohol. On
Feb. 10, the underage operative was able to purchase alcohol at:
-
Amicarellas Market,
3024 N. Market St.
-
Jax Foods, 3019 E.
Mission Ave.
-
Munchkin Market,
1928 E. Mission Ave.
-
Tesoro 2Go, 1001 E.
Wellesley Ave.
-
Zip Trip, 3030 E.
Euclid Ave
The Board commends the following five businesses for refusing to sell
alcohol to a minor during the compliance checks:
-
Bong’s Grocery &
Deli, 2040 W. Boone Ave.
-
Fred Meyer, 525 E.
Francis Ave.
-
Safeway, 3919 N.
Market St.
-
T.K. Qwik Stop, 3021
E. Wellesley Ave.
-
Tidyman’s, 6405 N.
Addison St.
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.
In 2004, liquor enforcement officers conducted
6,492 compliance checks statewide, with 83.3 percent of liquor
licensees passing the checks. In the city of Spokane, officers
conducted 211 compliance checks with 44 sales for a 79 percent
compliance rate.
####
Anyone who has information regarding
illegal activity at a licensed establishment is encouraged to report
that information to the Liquor Control Board’s toll-free tip line:
1-888-838-3956.
|
