Guilford Establishments Charged with Alleged Sale of Alcohol to Minors in Recent Compliance Inspection

HARTFORD, January 15– The Department of Consumer Protection is releasing the results of recent inspections undertaken by its Division of Liquor Control in cooperation with the Guilford Police Department and a 16-year-old volunteer provided by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership.

On Saturday, January 12, 2013, agents with the Liquor Control Division and officers from the Guilford Police Department conducted compliance checks of ten (10) package stores and grocery stores permitted to sell beer in that town.

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

• Big Y, 830 Boston Post Road
• Guilford Wine Company, 1200 Boston Post Road
• Sachem Wine and Spirits, 1795 Boston Post Road

These three stores 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 Guilford Police Department for their efforts to reduce underage drinking within their community and to the Prevention Partnership for its ongoing support.”

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