Alcohol compliance checks Monday

Alcohol compliance checks to ensure local businesses aren't selling alcohol to minors will be conducted Monday.

According to Deputy Sal Acosta, undercover officers will accompany minor decoys as they enter businesses that serve alcohol and attempt to purchase a beverage.

"It could be at a bar, it could be at a casino, it could be at a (convenience store), anywhere where alcohol is sold," said Acosta.

If a clerk or server is nabbed selling alcohol to the decoy they will be slapped with a $632 fine they are responsible for paying. The city also will issue a civil citation to the liquor license holder. For the first offense in six months, the licensee will received a $100 fine, the second is a $500 fine and on the third offense the licensee will be fined $1,500 and face suspension or revocation of their license by the Liquor Board.

"If anyone sells alcohol to a minor they will be cited or arrested," said Acosta.

The compliance checks are funded by a grant from the Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Program. EUDL, a program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice, supports and enhances efforts by states and local jurisdictions to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors and the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors.