Two volunteer minors who had been trained and provided by the Governor's Prevention Partnership assisted in the operation by entering each store and attempting to purchase beer or liquor.
A total of 44 package stores and grocery stores were tested for compliance; of these, five (5) stores allegedly failed by allegedly selling alcoholic liquor to one of the minors.
The stores which allegedly sold to a minor are:
· Padanaram Wine and Liquor, 56 Padanaram Road
· Tierda Ecuador, 72 Lake Avenue
· Cave Wine and Spirits, 42 Lake Avenue Ext.
· Stop and Shop, Salame Plaza, Lake Avenue
· Danbury Food and Variety Store, 121 White Street
Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said that routine compliance checks help the agency to identify businesses that knowingly or unknowingly sell alcohol to minors and bring them back into compliance with state law. However, compliance checks are not intended to hurt local businesses, he added.
“We don’t try to trick or entice establishments to sell alcoholic beverages to youth,” Rubenstein said. “If asked for proof of age before making a liquor purchase, the volunteer youth will hand over his or her actual photo I.D., which clearly indicates that they are underage.”
The Commissioner thanked Police Chief Alan Baker and the Danbury Police Department for their assistance on the compliance operation.
The businesses that allegedly sold to a minor will be brought before the Liquor Control Commission for an administrative hearing, at which time they will have an opportunity to address the charges.
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Media Contact: Claudette Carveth