Media

Underage Beer Sting Catches Clerks For Selling to Minors

Release Date: June 28, 2004

Clerks at 18 area convenience stores were arrested this past weekend for selling beer to underage customers. The sting was conducted this past Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26.

Investigators say they conducted the sting after receiving information that clerks at several area convenience stores were not checking customer identifications and were selling beer to minors.

Acting on the information, Metro D.U.I. officers decided to go undercover into the businesses. Working with them were several underage adults who were sent into the stores to buy beer.

State law requires customers to be at least 21 years of age to buy beer. If there is any question about a person’s age, clerks are required to check his or her identification before any beer is sold.

During the two-day sting, 36 violations were written. Beer permits from three establishments were also confiscated. Two of the businesses had expired permits. Another store had posted a beer permit that belonged to another convenience market.

Metro D.U.I. officers say their investigation into underage beer sales in Memphis and Shelby County will be on-going.