Sheriff: Another alcohol compliance sweep

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

An investigative aide, 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:

La Nopalera, 155 Hampton Point Dr., a 21-year old male sold a glass of beer.
Flying J, 950 S.R. 206 W., a 21-year old female sold a 6pk of beer.
Donovan’s, 7440 U.S. 1 North., a 56-year old male sold a glass of beer.
207 Express, 8880 W. Church St., Hastings, a 27-year old female sold a 6pk of beer.
Citgo Martin Oil, 1099 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., a 22-year old male sold a 6pk of beer.

Clerks at the following businesses refused to sell alcohol to the Investigative Aide:

Speedway Food Mart, 4401 Lewis Speedway; Kangaroo, 465 S.R. 16; Walgreens, 105
Julington Plaza Rd.; Pilot, 1625 C.R. 210; Happy Hour, 101 Bartram Park Walk;
Kangaroo, 1740 C.R. 210; B.P., 1650 C.R. 210 W.; Winn Dixie, 2220 C.R. 210 W.; Shell
Station, 2250 C.R. 210 W.; Publix, 2845 C.R. 210 W.; CVS, 390 Racetrack Rd.; Moes,
445 S.R. 13; Food Lion, 445 S.R. 13; Pizza Grill, 445 S.R. 13; Bar B Q, 445 S.R. 13; Taps,
2220 C.R. 210 W.; CVS, 920 A1A S.; Walgreens, 3975 A1A S.; Kangaroo, 4301 A1A S.;
Kangaroo, A1A S. and S.R. 206; Racetrack, 2511 S.R. 207; Food Mart, 508 U.S. 1 S.;
Owens, 780 S. Ponce Blvd.; A1A Discount Beverage, 855 Anastasia Blvd.; Kangaroo, 715
S.R. 207; Shell, 2350 U.S. 1 S.; and Kangaroo, 4540 U.S. 1 S.

The Operation on Monday revealed that clerks at 84% of the businesses that were checked refused to sell to the underage Investigative Aide.

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