5 Stores Cited: Sold Alcohol to Minors

Anaheim police recently cited five businesses for selling alcohol to minors.

Vice officers sent minors to 15 stores last week to try to buy alcoholic beverages, usually a six-pack of beer. They were successful at five businesses: JR’s Beer & Wine Market, 2034 W. Lincoln Ave.; Athens West, 2663 W. Lincoln Ave.; Go Go Liquor, 2439-41 W. Ball Road; 7-Eleven, 240 S. Magnolia Ave., and Chia Market, 1216 S. Magnolia Ave.

Anaheim officers use the sting operation about once a month. The officers then report the offending businesses to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Department.

Anaheim police received a $100,000 grant in July from the department, which issues liquor licenses, for its ABC Gale Grant Program, aimed at reducing minors’ access to alcohol.

Vice detail Sgt. Randy West said the percentage of businesses that violated their liquor licenses by selling to minors has increased since the last time they sent out underage decoys.

“Five out of 15--that’s 33%,” he said. “Last time, it was around 20%. We don’t like to see them that high.”

Investigator Kelly Jung said each citation, a misdemeanor, can cost a store up to $2,000. The ABC can also suspend or revoke a store’s license, depending how many times it has been cited for selling to minors.

The minors are instructed by officers to tell their true age if the clerks ask and show a true form of identity, Jung added.

“There are no lies,” she said. “There were too many businesses that sold too freely. They weren’t being responsible.”