On Wednesday, undercover detectives with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office conducted Compliance Checks for both Alcohol Buys and Nicotine Buys at various locations throughout Hernando County.
A total of 12 locations were visited throughout the evening. Nine locations were checked for the illegal sale of alcohol, and three locations were checked for the illegal sale of nicotine items including vape pens, according to deputies.
Deputies say that only two of the nine clerks did not permit the sale of alcoholic beverages to the underage customer, successfully following the law.
Clerks at seven businesses sold to underage customers to purchase an alcoholic beverage, a violation of the Florida Beverage Law, F.S.S. 562.11.
Clerks at all three businesses checked for nicotine sales did allow the underage customer to purchase nicotine vape pens.
The offenders are mandated to complete Responsible Vendor Training (RVT), an online course which is administered by the Hernando County Community Anti-Drug Coalition, within 30 days of the violation.
The course reinforces the importance of responsible alcohol and tobacco sales and service, reviews Florida beverage laws, and demonstrates practices on how to prevent alcohol sales to underage persons.
Stores in COMPLIANCE
- 15310 Cortez Boulevard (7-Eleven)
- 9410 Cortez Boulevard (RaceTrac)
Stores in VIOLATION (allowed the sale of alcohol and nicotine to underage person) were as follows:
Stores in VIOLATION (Alcohol)
- 7232 Brookridge Central Boulevard (A&H Discount Beverage)
- 4120 Commercial Way (ABC Fine Wine & Spirits)
- 12984 Cortez Boulevard (Wawa)
- 4060 Deltona Boulevard (A to Z Discount Beverages)
- 9605 Commercial Way (Liquors)
- 9202 Commercial Way (Marathon)
- 6210 Commercial Way (Liquor Depot)
Stores in VIOLATION (Nicotine)
- 101 Pone De Leon Boulevard (Texaco)
- 4384 Commercial Way (Dr. Smoke, Tobacco, & Vapor)
- 7279 Forest Oaks Boulevard (Higher Up Smoke Shop)
More operations of this nature are planned for the future, according to Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
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Some years ago there was a local scandal where clerks at several convenience stores were arrested for selling beer to a minor.
It turned out that the ‘minor’ looked much older than he was, and was PROVIDED A FAKE ID BY THE COPS, the ID stated that he was of legal age.