Clerks at six stores cited for selling beer to minors

Six of 12 local convenience stores sold beer to minors during a beer and alcohol underage sales compliance check Wednesday night.

None of the six liquor stores and none of the four grocery stores made sales to minors who attempted purchases.

Clerks at the following stores were all issued citations for selling beer to minors:

• Citgo Short Stop at 400 E South Avenue,
• On Cue at 1613 W South Avenue,
• Stop N Go at 501 W Highland Avenue,
• Valero at 201 W Hartford Avenue,
• Conoco Travel Mart at 3305 North 14^th Street
• and Conoco at 1901 North 14^th Street.

They will be required to appear in Municipal Court and could face fines up to $500 plus court costs if found guilty.

The following stores were in compliance:

• South Avenue Liquor,
• Highland Spirits,
• Lamp Post Liquor,
• Oscar & Essies,
• Plaza Wine and Spirits,
• and Old West Liquors.

Grocery stores that complied last night during the check were:

• Food Pyramid South,
• Food Pyramid,
• Wal-Mart
• and Walgreens.

Oklahoma Statute requires a person must be 21 years of age to purchase beer and provide proof of their age.

Oklahoma Statutes Citationized
Title 37. Intoxicating Liquors
Chapter 2 – Low-Point Beer
Minors
Section 241 – Twenty-One (21) Years of Age Requirement
Cite as: O.S. §, __ __

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, barter, or give to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age any low-point beer, as defined in Section 163.2 of this title.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person who holds a license to sell and dispense low-point beer for consumption on the premises, or any agent, servant, or employee of said license holder, to permit any person under twenty-one (21) years of age to be admitted to or remain in a separate or enclosed bar area of the licensed premises, which has as its main purpose the selling or serving of low-point beer for consumption on the premises. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit persons under twenty-one (21) years of age from being admitted to an area which has as its main purpose some objective other than the sale or serving of low-point beer, in which sales or serving of said beverages are incidental to the main purpose, as long as persons under twenty-one (21) years of age are not sold or served said beverages; however, the incidental service of food in the bar area shall not exempt a licensee, agent, servant, or employee from the provisions of this section.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person who holds a license to sell and dispense low-point beer, for consumption on the premises, or any agent, servant or employee of said license holder to permit any person under twenty-one (21) years of age to consume any low-point beer on the licensed premises.

D. Any person violating the provisions of subsection A, B or C of this section shall upon conviction be guilty of a misdemeanor for a first violation and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Any person convicted of a second violation within one (1) year of the first violation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Any person convicted of a third violation within one (1) year of the first violation shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The filing of a supplemental information shall be subject to the discretion of the district attorney. One-half (1/2) of any fine collected shall be deposited in the Prevention of Youth Access to Alcohol Revolving Fund established by Section 608 of this title.