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Alcohol sting bites market
Three out of four stores checked for identification
By Ryan Rudnansky
Staff Writer
On Dec. 22, Windsor police officers conducted an alcohol sting operation to determine if local businesses were in compliance with California law regarding the sale of alcohol to a minor.
In the sting, a 19-year-old decoy entered four locations with the intent to buy alcohol.
Of the four locations visited, one store, Windsor Market on 9025 Old Redwood Highway, was in violation of selling alcohol to a minor. The clerk at the store who sold alcohol to the decoy was cited by police, Windsor Police Chief Steve Freitas said.
Selling alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by a minimum fine of $250 and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for the first offense.
Unlike violating the law for selling tobacco to a minor, owners can be held accountable by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for the sale of alcohol to a minor.
Owners whose stores sell alcohol to minors can receive a 15-day suspension of their alcohol license for the first offense, a 25-day suspension for the second offense within 36 months, and revocation of their license for the third offense within 36 months.
“To give the good news with the bad news,” Freitas said, one store, the One Stop Market on 8499 Old Redwood Highway in the Windsor Palms Shopping Center, refused to sell alcohol to the decoy.
At two locations, “two adult men in their 20s” were found buying alcohol inside the stores for the minor. However, the businesses were not in violation as they sold to individuals over 21 years of age.
Freitas said Windsor police officers traditionally conduct an alcohol sting about every couple of months.
During the holidays, Freitas said stings are generally conducted because of the increase in the use of alcohol.
“Alcohol awareness throughout the holidays is something we traditionally concentrate on,” he said.
Freitas said two main reasons the alcohol stings are important is they hold local businesses accountable and the public is assured that local law enforcement is taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the law.
Freitas said results have been mixed during recent stings.
“We see ones that continually have problems; then there are a couple stores that do very, very well,” he said.
Freitas was particularly appreciative of Fast and Easy Mart, 8916 Brooks Road, for its dedication to adhering to laws concerning alcohol and tobacco.
“Fast and Easy Mart do a very good job of carding kids for alcohol and tobacco,” he said.
Fast and Easy Mart and One Stop Market were the only local businesses out of four in compliance during a tobacco sting by Windsor police officers on Oct. 30.
Windsor Market was not visited by police on Oct. 30.
In the sting, a 19-year-old decoy entered four locations with the intent to buy alcohol.
Of the four locations visited, one store, Windsor Market on 9025 Old Redwood Highway, was in violation of selling alcohol to a minor. The clerk at the store who sold alcohol to the decoy was cited by police, Windsor Police Chief Steve Freitas said.
Selling alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by a minimum fine of $250 and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for the first offense.
Unlike violating the law for selling tobacco to a minor, owners can be held accountable by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for the sale of alcohol to a minor.
Owners whose stores sell alcohol to minors can receive a 15-day suspension of their alcohol license for the first offense, a 25-day suspension for the second offense within 36 months, and revocation of their license for the third offense within 36 months.
“To give the good news with the bad news,” Freitas said, one store, the One Stop Market on 8499 Old Redwood Highway in the Windsor Palms Shopping Center, refused to sell alcohol to the decoy.
At two locations, “two adult men in their 20s” were found buying alcohol inside the stores for the minor. However, the businesses were not in violation as they sold to individuals over 21 years of age.
Freitas said Windsor police officers traditionally conduct an alcohol sting about every couple of months.
During the holidays, Freitas said stings are generally conducted because of the increase in the use of alcohol.
“Alcohol awareness throughout the holidays is something we traditionally concentrate on,” he said.
Freitas said two main reasons the alcohol stings are important is they hold local businesses accountable and the public is assured that local law enforcement is taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the law.
Freitas said results have been mixed during recent stings.
“We see ones that continually have problems; then there are a couple stores that do very, very well,” he said.
Freitas was particularly appreciative of Fast and Easy Mart, 8916 Brooks Road, for its dedication to adhering to laws concerning alcohol and tobacco.
“Fast and Easy Mart do a very good job of carding kids for alcohol and tobacco,” he said.
Fast and Easy Mart and One Stop Market were the only local businesses out of four in compliance during a tobacco sting by Windsor police officers on Oct. 30.
Windsor Market was not visited by police on Oct. 30.
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