More than 30 stores sold alcohol to underage customers during a July 16 sweep conducted by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Volunteers consisting of 18- and 19-year-olds went into about 87 different convenience stores throughout the county. Some attempted to buy a single can of Four Lokos and some others tried to score a sixer of Bud Lite. The underage teens did not carry any identification while attempting to buy the booze. Of those, 32 stores didn’t ID the person.
“We were receiving complaints from parents whose kids advised them they could buy alcohol anywhere,” said Lt. Mitch Pitts, BCSO criminal investigator. “They were right.”
During their arraignments, 17 of the retailers have been adjudicated guilty so far of the misdemeanor charges and fined $350 — amounting to $5,950. Two of the retailers will undergo pretrial intervention and three have continued their cases Friday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among American youth. Alcohol-related incidents account for more than 4,300 deaths a year.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms could pursue other fines or penalties against the owners of the businesses.
Following are the names of those found guilty Friday:
Jason Aleshire
Younes Amrhari
Danielle Burns
Katherine Casper
Hashim Farhar
Elizabeth Garcia-Hernandez
Shanna Gilmore
Eric Harris
Cathy McMurphy
Ryan Pantaleo
Vipulkumar Patel
Andelia Robinson
Medapail Srinivasareddy
Leticia Ann Stones
Sheila Walsh
Bryan Waymire
Kathryn Woosley