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Two north county businesses passed the test with the The New York State Liquor Authority. Underage drinking compliance checks were conducted on July 30 in Erie and Chautauqua counties. Investigators, working with an underage agent, visited five licensed premises as part of ongoing efforts to monitor compliance with state alcohol laws. During the operation, two Erie County establishments, including Corner Market in Derby, appeared to sell alcoholic beverages to the underage agent.
Those refusing to sell alcoholic beverages to a minor were: O'Malia’s Liquor Store at 1170 Central Ave., Dunkirk and Fredonia Food Mart Inc. at 33 Temple St.
Employees or licensees who sell to minors can be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. If someone under the age of 21 is found to be using a fake ID or someone else’s ID to buy alcohol, they can be arrested and have their license revoked or suspended for a minimum of 90 days or up to one year.
Licensees charged by the authority with underage sales face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, with fines ranging from $2,500 to $4,000 for a first-time offense. Repeat offenders also face possible suspension or revocation of their licenses.
Undercover decoys work under the direct supervision of SLA Beverage Control Investigators. This release indicates SLA Enforcement Unit's recommendations for charges to businesses appearing to have sold to minors. This does not indicate that licensees have been formally charged at this time.