“We were disappointed to find that seven of the twelve stores tested in Cheshire last weekend are alleged to have failed our routine compliance check,” Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said today.  “Providing alcohol to minors is a serious breach of our permitees’ obligations and that rate of failure is abysmal.  We will take steps to assure that violators modify their procedures in order to comply with State law.”

On Saturday, May 25th, officers from the Cheshire Police Department and agents from the Liquor Control Division conducted compliance checks of all package stores and grocery stores licensed to sell beer in the town of Cheshire.  Twelve stores were tested for compliance; of these, seven stores failed by allegedly selling liquor to a volunteer minor trained and provided by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership. The failed stores are:

• Everybody’s Market
• Cheshire Spirit House
• Southend Spirits
• Super Wines and Liquor
• Sunshine Convenience
• Mountain Top Liquor
• Townline Discount Wine and Liquor

“Compliance operations help us to identify licensed or permitted locations that are selling alcoholic beverages to minors,” Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said.  “Our goal is to find businesses that sell to minors and bring them into compliance with state liquor laws. 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.”

The seven 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.

“We express our thanks to the Cheshire Police Department for their collaboration, and to the Governor’s Prevention Partnership for its ongoing support,” Rubenstein said.

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