HARTFORD, February 27 – The Department of Consumer Protection is releasing the results of recent inspections undertaken by its Division of Liquor Control in cooperation with the Enfield Police Department.

At 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, agents from the Department’s Liquor Control Division and officers from the Enfield Police Department conducted compliance checks of package stores and grocery stores in the town of Enfield.  Twenty-two (22) stores were tested for compliance. Of these, nineteen (19) stores passed and three (3) failed by selling alcohol to the volunteer underage youth trained and provided by the Governor's Prevention Partnership.  The stores that allegedly failed are:

·         Stop and Shop, 54 Hazard Avenue

·         Good Times Package Store, 79 Pearl Street

·         Enfield Liquor Warehouse, 496 Enfield Street

“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, however.

“We don’t try to trick or entice establishments to sell alcoholic beverages to youth,” Rubenstein said. “If asked their age before making a liquor purchase, volunteer youths hand over their actual ID, and tell their true age. Our goal is to find businesses that sell to minors and bring them into compliance with state liquor laws.”

The three businesses cited in the compliance check are charged with allegedly selling liquor to a minor and will appear 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 Enfield Police Department for their continuing efforts to reduce underage drinking within their community.”

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