11 convenient stores fail ABC underage compliance checks

Eleven convenience stores failed a Wilson County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board underage compliance check earlier this month that was part of an ongoing campaign targeting those who sell to minors.

Wilson County ABC Board’s Enforcement Division officers conducted 19 underage compliance checks at businesses in Wilson on Aug. 2., according to a Wilson County ABC Board news release. Eight of the 19 establishments passed the compliance checks, according to the release.

In North Carolina, it’s against the law for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase, possess or consume alcoholic beverages. The ABC officers employed an 18-year-old, who entered ABC permitted establishments with only a valid North Carolina driver’s license that officials say clearly indicated that the teen was younger than 21 years old. The teen was not allowed to attempt to deceive the establishment employees in any way, and if asked for identification, or any means of determining age, the teen must respond truthfully, officials said.

Following are the businesses that failed the compliance check and sold alcohol to the underage teen, according to the Wilson County ABC Board:

• Hasty Mart, 301 Moyton Ave., Stantonsburg

• Tareq Mini Mart, 5917 Ward Blvd., Wilson

• Nancy’s Market, 700 Lane St., Wilson

• J.B. Mart, 6406 Ward Blvd., Wilson

• HR Grocery, 5000 Frank Price Church Road, Wilson

• Handy Mart, 1605 Herring Ave., Wilson

• SJ Mart, 605 Herring Ave., Wilson

• Fresh Mart, 515 Atlantic Christian Drive, Wilson

• PK Mart, 4945 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson

• Speedway, 3950 Ward Blvd., Wilson

• J and H Mart, 725 Tarboro St., Wilson

Larry Etheridge, Wilson County ABC Board general manager, said the individuals who sold alcohol to the minor were issued a citation. Violations for the businesses were submitted to the state ABC Commission.

For the first offense, a person convicted of selling or providing alcohol to someone under the age of 21 must pay a $250 fine, court costs, attorney fees and do 25 hours of community service. An ABC permitted establishment could be subject to pay penalties in excess of $1,000 and/or loss of their permits.

Compliance checks are conducted various times throughout the year, Etheridge said. “This is the largest we’ve done in one night,” he said. “Hopefully by doing these, folks will do a better job of checking IDs before selling alcohol.”

Etheridge said the goal of the compliance checks is not to have any establishment sell alcohol to a minor. He also praised the establishments that passed the compliance check and refused to sell to the underage teen during the campaign. Those businesses are:

• Dollar General, 219 Moyton Ave., Stantonsburg

• Tareq Mart, 218 Moyton Ave., Stantonsburg

• Grocery Door, 1907 Nash St. NW, Wilson

• Jiffy Mart, 111 W. Hines St., Wilson

• Circle K, 4934 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson

• Food Lion, 2021 Lipscomb Road, Wilson

• Downtown Mart, 300 E. Herring Ave., Wilson

• Speedway, 1602 MLK Jr. Parkway, Wilson

Officials say statistics show that alcohol is the most commonly used substance among young people. Underage drinking starts early, too. Nationwide, there are more than 4,000 alcohol-related deaths among young people under the age of 21 every year, according to the Talk It Out NC campaign. In 2021, there were nearly 20 teen fatalities in North Carolina due to drunk driving, officials said.

The post 11 convenient stores fail ABC underage compliance checks first appeared on Restoration NewsMedia .