Sale of alcohol to minors sweep nabs six

On Saturday, the Youth Services Unit of the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the PACT Prevention Coalition, conducted another alcohol compliance operation; this time targeting the northwest part of the county according to an after-action report received by Historic City News this week.

As part of the Sheriff’s Office Investigative Aide Program, an 18-year-old male attempted to purchase alcohol at sixteen local establishments. The Aide was sold alcohol at six of the businesses. The aide would produce his actual identification if asked and state his true age if requested.

The Sheriff’s Office filed a charge of selling, serving, or giving alcohol to a person under the age of 21 against each of the six individuals who served alcohol to the Aides.

Three of the clerks did not check ID at all, while the other three checked the identification — but sold the alcoholic beverages anyway. The reports will also be sent to the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco for potential administrative investigations.

The establishments where clerks were charged:

• Publix Liquors, 2750 Race Track Rd., a 59-year old female sold
• Daily’s Shell, 101 Julington Plaza Dr., a 21-year old male sold
• Broudy’s Liquors, 140 SR-13, a 23-year old male sold
• Saucy Taco, 450 SR-13 #113, a 21-year old male sold
• Flatts 101, 104 Bartram Oaks Walk, a 32-year old male sold
• Hess Express, 150 Hampton Point Dr., a 56-year old male sold

Clerks at the following businesses refused to sell alcohol to the Investigative Aide: CVS, 2680 Race Track Rd.; Walgreens, 105 Julington Plaza Dr.; Gate Station, 1605 Race Track Rd.; Walmart, 445 SR-13; Brickstone Pizzeria, 445 SR-13; Hess Express, 401 Roberts Rd.; Kangaroo, 1790 SR-13; Pilot, 1625 CR-210; T/A Travel Center, 1650 CR-210; and the Kangaroo, 1740 CR-210.