HARTFORD, September 19  – The Department of Consumer Protection is releasing the results of recent inspections undertaken by its Division of Liquor Control in cooperation with the Plainfield Police Department.

On Saturday, September 15, 2012 agents with the Liquor Control Division and officers from the Plainfield Police Department conducted compliance checks of the nine (9) package stores and grocery stores in Plainfield (including Wauregan, Central Village, and the village of Moosup). 

“Compliance operations are consistently useful in helping us identify licensed or permitted locations that are selling alcoholic beverages to minors,” Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said. He added that the compliance checks are not intended to hurt local businesses.

“Our goal is to find businesses that sell to minors and bring them into compliance with state liquor laws,” Rubenstein said.  “If the volunteer youth are asked their age before making a liquor purchase, they will hand over their actual ID, and tell their true age.”

It is being alleged that three (3) stores failed by selling alcoholic liquor to a volunteer minor provided by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership. The stores which allegedly failed are:

• Better Val-U Supermarket, 657 Norwich Rd., Plainfield

• Plainfield Northeast Wine & Spirits, 81 Lathrop Rd., Plainfield

• Marie’s Lake Street Spirits, 30 Lake St., Moosup

The three businesses are charged with allegedly selling liquor to a minor and will be brought before the Liquor Control Commission for an administrative hearing, at which time the charges will be addressed.

 “Partnering with state and local law enforcement on these checks benefits everyone involved,” Rubenstein said. “I want to express our sincere thanks to the Plainfield Police Department for their efforts to reduce underage drinking within their community.”

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