Three local convenience stores have been found in violation of state law after they allegedly sold alcohol to patrons under 21 during a multijurisdictional police operation.
These three rogue retailers were among 17 businesses that police officers from Burlington, Elon, and Mebane, and Graham scoped out during a “compliance check” on August 29.
According to Burlington’s police department, this collaborative effort ultimately found violations at the BP Family Fare at 2602 South Mebane Street, Burlington; the Circle K at 801 East Harden Street, Graham; and a Shell gas station at 1126 Mebane Oaks Road, Mebane.
Clerks at each of these stores allegedly sold alcohol to underage buyers that law enforcement officials had sent into the businesses to test their compliance with North Carolina’s ban on alcohol sales to people under 21. According to Sergeant Justin Jolly with the Burlington police, adherence to state law was observed at all of other retailers involved in this operation.
“We were glad that 14 out of the 17 locations had asked for proper identification and refused to sell alcohol to an underage buyer,” Jolly went on to declare in a news release Friday. “We continue to encourage store owners, managers, and clerks to be diligent about checking identification of any youthful-appearing person.”
The city’s police department went on to issue a clean bill of health to the following businesses in Burlington:
The Walmart supercenter at 3141 Garden Road; Harris Teeter at 2725 South Church Street; Food Lion at 3535 South Church Street; L&M Mini Mart at 3503 South Church Street; and Dollar General at 1031 South Williamson Avenue.
In Graham, officers found nothing untoward at Powercade Arcade & Bar at 2048 South NC Highway 119 and the BP gas station at 1780 NC Highway 119.
In Elon, no violations were reported at either the Circle K at 110 West Haggard Avenue or the Citgo gas station at 807 West Haggard Avenue.
Meanwhile, in Mebane, the following five retailers passed the compliance check: Hawfields General Store at 2048 South NC Highway 119; the BP gas station at 1738 South NC Highway 119; the Shell gas station at 1780 South NC Highway 119; Tommy’s Mini Mart at 300 West Center Street; and Ray’s Food Mart at 1525 North NC Highway 119.
