Police to Target Liquor Sales to Minors

The city’s Police Department will begin targeting businesses that sell liquor to minors, officials said Monday.

“We’ve gotten a lot of complaints over the past few months that certain businesses are selling alcohol to minors,” Police Det. Tom Rackleff said. “The impact on the community is tremendous when teens drink and drive.”

The operation will be conducted over the next year, Rackleff said. The Police Department has begun writing letters to about 150 city businesses that sell alcohol, Rackleff said.

“We want to put the [business owners] on notice, to give them a chance right now to start complying with the law and hopefully cut down the activity right there,” he said.

The police will use a decoy, from 18 to 20 years old, who will attempt to purchase alcohol at various locations, from pizza parlors to liquor stores, Rackleff said.

First-time violations can result in a $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail, Rackleff said.