FULLERTON : 7 Firms Cited for Sale of Liquor to Minors

Seven of 19 businesses approached during a Police Department sting operation allegedly sold alcohol to under-age cadets, police said.

The businesses have been cited by the police and their owners may be fined up to $1,500 by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control if this is their first offense. Repeat offenders could lose their liquor licenses, said ABC investigator Marianne Eckhoff, who will review the charges.

Two cadets, ages 19 and 20, were sent to local stores on Oct. 13 and 16, said Sgt. GeoffSpalding, adding that neither of the decoys appears 21 and that neither showed a fake identification.

Spalding said the police performed the undercover investigation in response to complaints to the ABC about some of the targeted businesses. ABC no longer uses field agents to see if stores are selling to minors, according to Eckhoff. She said the agency was ordered in March by the state Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to cease such operations and work on their backlog of liquor permit applications.

Eckhoff praised the Fullerton effort, saying illegal liquor purchases by “the kids are out of control right now.”

The businesses cited are Alpha Market, K’s Market, Lamppost Pizza, Larry’s Pizza, Mr. Bob’s Liquor, Valencia Market and Village Market, Spalding said. On the second day of the sting, however, K’s Market was among those that received a commendation for refusing to sell to a cadet.

Twelve other businesses received commendations for their refusal to sell alcohol to the cadets.

In addition to catching violators, the operation also has a deterrent aspect, said Spalding and Eckhoff. “If word gets around, maybe we can cut down on (illegal) sales,” Spalding said.

In a similar police operation in April, before the ABC was reined in, only two out of 17 stores in Fullerton were cited for illegal alcohol sales. Eckhoff said there may be a higher incidence of violations since the ABC has been taken off the streets. “The licensees know that we’re not out there, so they have less to worry about,” she said.

In reviewing the recent sting, Eckhoff said she will be more lenient with the businesses that sold to the 20-year-old cadet and will probably put them on probation rather than fine them.

Spalding said the department plans another operation later this fall.