Multi-agency sting catches store selling alcohol to minors in Angelina County

ANGELINA COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) - Multiple agencies cooperated on a sting to identify stores selling alcohol to minors. The Coalition, an agency funded in part by TxDOT, partnered with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission in an effort to decrease incidents where minors are able to obtain alcohol. Under the direct supervision of officers, juveniles under the legal age to drink were used as decoys to enter businesses licensed to sell alcohol and attempt to make a purchase. “Underage drinking has unintended consequences for youth, such as increased risk for car crashes, sexual assault and long-term addiction. Local retailers must train their employees on the laws concerning the sale of alcohol to minors, and they should set an expectation among their staff to ask for ID and deny alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 21,” said Sharon Kruk, executive director of The Coalition. During stings run in January and February, one store was identified that did sell alcohol to minors, while 29 stores did not. According to a release from The Coalition, administrative action was taken against the employee of On the Road #125, 3049 State Highway 103 W, who did make an illegal sale. Sale of alcohol to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement up to a year in jail or both. Stores that did not sell to minors during the sting are listed below. Agency representatives said they commend these stores for helping to combat underage drinking.

· Walgreens, 102 N Timberland Drive;

· Uday #30, 612 W. Frank Avenue;

· Walgreens, 612 N. Frank Avenue;

· Zaks Food Mart, 1902 W. Frank Avenue;

· Lucky’s, 103 N. Timberland Drive;

· Big’s #3819, 103 N. John Redditt;

· Lucky’s #2, 3385 Ted Trout Drive;

· Brookshire Brothers #10, 5750 Ted Trout Drive;

· A2Z Food Mart #1, 904 S. John Redditt;

· Dollar General Store #22841, 2205 Old Union Road;

· Big’s #3814, 1004 S. John Redditt;

· Dollar General Store #10644, 2102 Southwood Drive;

· Super Mart, 702 Southwood Drive;

· Brookshire Brothers #25, 1807 W. Frank Avenue;

· Family Dollar Store #6227, 1891 W. Frank Avenue;

· JR Food Mart, 1114 E. Denman Avenue;

· On the Road #101, 1001 E. Denman Avenue;

· Pilot Travel Center, 1920 E Denman Avenue;

· Big’s #3820, 2400 E Denman Avenue;

· Dollar General Store #6268, 2422 E Denman Avenue;

· Family Dollar Store #9124, 2500 E. Denman Avenue;

· Uday #31, 6480 S US Hwy 69;

· Brookshire Brothers #52, 885 US Hwy 69 S;

· Tobacco Barn #52, 885 US Hwy 69 S;

· Dollar General, 790 Hwy 69 S, Huntington;

· Family Dollar, 593 Hwy 69 South, Huntington;

· Huntington Travel Center, 191 S US Hwy 69, Huntington;

· Homer Mini Mart, 7075 Hwy 69 S; and

· On the Road #102, 2909 E Denman Avenue.