Retailers Charged for Underage Alcohol Sales

The Dalton Police Situational Response Unit, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol and Tobacco Division, recently conducted a phase of "Operation I.D. Please" to check compliance with local and state laws forbidding sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 years old.

The December 18 and 19 operation netted eight (8) violations and involved undercover agents and underage persons attempting to buy alcoholic beverages at the retail locations. The employee selling the alcohol and the business was cited by the agents. Including these cases, Dalton Police Officers have charged thirty-three (33) retail establishments with the same offense in 2006. This was the first time this year that state agents were involved, and a total of thirty-eight locations were inspected in this current phase.

Operations of this kind typically involve an underage person, acting as an agent for police, entering the store to purchase alcohol. In cases where violations are found, the store attendants seldom ask for ID, and if they do, they do not check it closely. None of the underage operatives consume any alcohol, and the purchased items are entered as evidence in the case.

The goal of these type operations is to curb underage alcohol consumption by reducing the number of sources for potential buyers. Although the fines and penalties can be expensive, the best way for retailers to avoid this is always ask for ID, and do not sell to underage persons. The police department offers posters, brochures and DVD/VHS information to each licensee in the city in hopes that owners and managers will instruct employees to be careful and follow the law.