Tuesday, Nov. 13 2012 4:40PM

Clerks cited for sale of alcohol to a minor

Clerks at two stores in Lee’s Summit received citations after selling alcohol to a minor during a quarterly undercover sting conducted by the Lee’s Summit Police Department.

Lee’s Summit police conducted the quarterly liquor control sting operation Nov. 8. 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.

A sales clerk at Phillips 66 located in the 3300 block of S.W. Third Street, and a clerk at Price Chopper in the 300 block of S.W. Blue Parkway were cited by LSPD.

During the operation an underage decoy entered the business and attempted to purchase alcohol while wearing recording equipment to verify the actions of both the decoy and business clerk.

Store clerks are required by law to verify the age of a purchaser of alcohol. If the store clerk refuses to sell to an underage patron, then management receives a letter congratulating them on the appropriate action of their employee.

If an illegal sale is made a detective with the LSPD’s 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 received 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.