On Saturday October 4, 2014 detectives from the Regional Street Enforcement Team (SET) conducted an underage alcohol compliance operation at several Reno convenience/liquor stores. The operation was designed to coincide with tonight’s University of Nevada vs. Boise State homecoming football game and focused on businesses near the University. The operation was a collaborative effort with the University of Nevada and the University of Nevada police services.
Some of the businesses were checked in response to citizen’s complaints to the Reno police department about alcohol being sold to minors and/or previous failures during a similar operation.
An 18, 19, and 20 year old volunteer attempted to purchase alcohol at nine different locations. Eight of those businesses refused to sell alcohol to the volunteers, while one sold alcohol to the minors.
The following locations were checked and PASSED the compliance check by refusing to sell alcohol to the minors:
-Jackson’s located at 600 N. Wells Ave.
-7-11 located at 1665 N. Virginia St.
-Zippy Mart located at 1690 Evans Ave.
-Valley Market located at 505 Denslowe Dr.
-Jackson’s Food Mart located at 901 N. Virginia St.
-Wolf Fast Stop located at 1625 N. Virginia St.
-Shell located at 700 N. Sierra St.
-Save Mart Grocery Store located at 525 Keystone Ave.
The Reno police department would like to thank those businesses who passed this operation for their diligence in ensuring only individuals of legal age are sold alcohol.
The following business FAILED the operation and was issued a citation for the listed charges:
-Sharma Mart located at 504 Denslowe Dr. – Sales of alcohol to a minor
The employee at this business recognized the minors were underage and charged an additional fee during the sale. Other minors were observed attempting to purchase alcohol during and after the undercover operation.
As is the case in all alcohol compliance checks, the minors possessed their actual state issued identifications which clearly identified them as being under the age of 21. If asked by the employees, the volunteers provided their real identification.
This compliance check was funded entirely by federal grant funds which were secured by our community partner; Join Together Northern Nevada (JTNN).
The Reno police department, University of Nevada, and JTNN would like to extend our appreciation and publicly recognize all of the passing businesses.
Serving/selling alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor, with a pre-designated fine of $500.00.
The Regional Street Enforcement team is comprised of detectives from the Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the University of Nevada Police Services.
SOURCE: RPD
