Three charged with alcohol sales to minors

St. Johns County Sheriff David B. Shoar told Historic City News local crime reporters that within the past two weeks, the Youth Services Unit of his agency conducted another alcohol compliance detail as a continuing part of “The Party’s Over” campaign.

A male and female investigative aide, both under the age of 20, attempted to purchase alcohol at several local establishments in the St. Augustine area. The aide would produce actual, valid identification, if asked, and state their true age, if requested.

The Sheriff’s Office routinely files charges of selling, serving or giving alcohol to a person under the age of 21 against the clerks who serve alcohol to the aide. The reports are also sent to the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco for potential administrative investigations.

The establishments where clerks were charged with selling alcohol to a minor were:
The Purple Olive, 4255 A1A South #6, a 43-year old male sold a bottle of beer.
The Raintree, 102 San Marco Ave., a 25-year old male sold a bottle of beer.
Kangaroo Express 1115 A1A Beach Blvd., a 22-year old female sold a 6 pk of beer.

Clerks at the following businesses refused to sell alcohol to the Investigative Aide:
Kingfish Grill, 252 Yacht Club Dr.;
The Reef, 4100 Coastal Highway;
Caps’, 4325 Myrtle St.;
Barnacle Bills, 14 W. Castillo Dr.;
Sunoco, 450 Ponce de Leon Blvd.;
Kangaroo (The Pantry), 6929 A1A South

Shoar said, “We will continue with these types of details to combat the illegal sales of alcohol to our youth.”

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer