SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Local Business Employees Charged with Selling Alcohol to Minors

On 6-18-08, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deputies teamed with Agents from the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco to do "test buys" in Santa Rosa County. This operation was done in an effort to curb sales of alcohol to underage individuals in Santa Rosa County . Deputies and Agents first went to the Avalon Boulevard area and made seven attempts, resulting in four Notice to Appears being issued to store clerk's for selling alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. The stores that were checked and cited:

Tom Thumb on Avalon

Parade store on Avalon

Avalon Bowling Center

Fillups on Avalon

Deputies and Agents also worked the Pace area from Woodbine Road to Pea Ridge. They made twenty-one attempts, resulting in two Notice to Appears being issued to clerk's for selling alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. The stores that were checked and cited were:

Circle K at Hwy. 90 and 197

Penny Pantry on Hwy. 90

All of the individuals that were issued a Notice to Appear are required to appear in Santa Rosa Court on a misdemeanor criminal charge of selling alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. Sheriff Wendell Hall and his personnel will continue these efforts, along with the ABT agents, in order to curb the consumption of alcohol by Santa Rosa County 's youth. The Sheriff's Office will continue to make sure that businesses are complying with the law regarding the sale of alcohol to underage individuals.

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net