Burlington’s police department has announced a somewhat ambivalent outcome to a multi-agency sting that checked to see if local retailers are selling alcohol to people under 21 years of age.
The city’s police force ultimately visited 13 retailers during this operation, which it conducted on March 9 in tandem with the office of Alamance County’s sheriff and the municipal police department in Graham. According to Burlington’s police department, clerks at 6 of the 13 locations were caught selling alcohol to under age buyers and were consequently cited for violating the applicable state law.
Three retailers in Burlington were reportedly among those where violations occurred. The city’s police department has identified these locations as Cancun Mexican Restaurant at 3153 Garden Road, Huff’s Interstate Station at 2562 Maple Avenue, and the Food Lion at 414 Harden Street.
Members of Graham’s police force also documented violations at the Dollar General at 1217 South Main Street and Graham Mart at 419 South Main Street. Meanwhile, sheriff’s deputies cited a clerk at Hot Spot Swepsonville at 1101 East Main Street in Swepsonville.
Burlington’s police department acknowledged that seven other retailers in Burlington and Graham aced this compliance spot check. Of these locations, those in Burlington included Dave’s Mini Mart at 506 Chapel Hill Road, Dollar General at 2091 Chapel Hill Road, and the Walmart at 3141 Garden Road. Meanwhile, in Graham, no violations were reported at the 6-to-1 Mini Mart at 201 West Harden Street, Amoco Food Shop at 924 East Harden Street, the Circle K at 801 East Harden Street, and Graham Family Fare at 301 South Main Street.
According to Sergeant Justin Jolly with Burlington’s police department, the agencies which took part in this sting are grateful to those outlets which followed the law.
“We commend the clerks who asked for identification and refused to sell to the underage buyer,” he added in a news release earlier this month. “Our goal is for every location to pass; therefore, we strongly encourage all store managers, clerks, and bartenders to be trained in the laws of alcohol sales on a regular basis.”
