On Thursday November 8th, the Lee’s Summit Police Department conducted its quarterly liquor control “sting” operation within the city. The operation targeted retail establishments responsible for following municipal and state law regarding the sale of alcohol to minors. A total of nine businesses were checked, with two clerks being cited for an illegal sale of alcohol.
During the operation an underage decoy will enter the business and attempt to purchase alcohol while wearing recording equipment to verify the actions of both the decoy and business clerk. The business clerk plays an important role in preventing underage alcohol consumption by completing just one task, verifying the age of the purchaser. If the business clerk refuses to sell then management receives a letter congratulating them on the appropriate action of their employee.
If an illegal sale is made a detective with the Special Investigative Unit will enter the business after the decoy exits and issue a citation for the sale of alcohol to a minor. The clerk has the primary responsibility for verifying age which is why they receive the citation and not the business. If repeated violations occur at a business; Missouri State Liquor Control may initiate disciplinary action against the businesses liquor license.
During this operation, citations were issued to clerks at businesses in the 3300 block of SW 3rd. St. (Phillips 66) and the 300 block of SW Blue Parkway (Price Chopper).
