With funding from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), The Coalition, Inc. recently partnered with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to conduct minor alcohol stings in an effort to decrease the consequences of alcohol purchased by minors. Under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers, juveniles under the legal age to drink/purchase alcohol were used as decoys to enter businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol and then attempt to purchase alcohol.
“Research shows that kids who drink alcohol are more likely to be involved in alcohol-related traffic crashes and more likely to face addiction issues later in life. Armed with that knowledge, the adults in our community have the responsibility to make sure minors can’t purchase alcohol from our retail stores,” says Sharon Kruk, Executive Director of The Coalition, Inc. “The Coalition is proud to partner with the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department, TABC and TxDOT to provide minor alcohol stings that we hope will ultimately keep the kids in our community safer.”
During the April minor sting operations, there was one store that sold to minors and 9 that did not. We commend those stores that did not sell alcohol to minors in our community and recognize them for helping to combat underage drinking:
- Walgreens, 102 N Timberland Drive;
- Uday #30, 612 W. Frank Avenue;
- Big’s #3819, 103 N. John Redditt;
- Family Dollar Store #6227, 1891 W. Frank Avenue;
- Brookshire Brothers #25, 1807 W. Frank Avenue;
- CVS/Pharmacy #6846, 1204 E. Lufkin Avenue;
- Brookshire Brothers #1, 301 S. Chestnut;
- On the Road #101, 1001 E, Denman Avenue; and
- JR Food Mart, 1114 E. Denman Avenue.
One business did sell to minors and administrative action was taken against the individual who sold the alcohol:
- Zaks Food Mart, 1902 W. Frank Avenue.
The 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. Persons 21 or older can be held liable for damages caused by the intoxication of a minor under 18 if the adult knowingly provided alcoholic beverages to a minor or knowingly allowed the minor to be served or provided alcoholic beverages on the premises owned by or leased by the adult.
The Coalition, Inc. is funded in part by a grant from TxDOT to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes in Texas. Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes, and behaviors, all in an effort to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. For more information on how to prevent underage drinking, contact The Coalition at 936-634-9308.
