HARTFORD, June 10  -- The Department of Consumer Protection is reporting the results of two liquor compliance checks it conducted this past weekend.

“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.”

In the evening of Friday, June 7th, agents from the Department’s Division of Liquor Control and the Resident Trooper’s Office of East Haddam conducted compliance checks of package stores, grocery stores, and restaurants in East Haddam and Moodus. Minors who had been trained and provided by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership also participated. Nine (9) locations were tested for compliance; four (4) failed by allegedly selling alcoholic liquor to one of the minors.

The premises that allegedly failed are:

• Swing Bridge Wine and Spirits, East Haddam
• Fox Hopyard Golf Club, East Haddam
• La Vita Gustosa, East Haddam
• The Town Tavern, East Haddam

“We are disappointed that four stores tested in East Haddam allegedly failed the routine compliance check,” Rubenstein said. “Providing alcohol to minors is a serious breach of our permitees’ obligations, and we will take steps to assure that violators modify their procedures in order to comply with State law.”

On Saturday, June 8th, Liquor Control and officers from the Putnam Police Department conducted compliance checks of package stores and grocery stores that are under the jurisdiction of the Putnam Police Department.  A volunteer minor was trained and provided by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership.  Of the six (6) stores tested for compliance, it is alleged that two (2) failed by selling to a minor. 

The premises which allegedly failed are:

• Putnam Spirits Package Store,  Putnam
• Uncle Dan’s Wine Beer and Booze, Putnam

These six establishments are charged with selling liquor to a minor and will be scheduled for an administrative hearing before the Liquor Control Commission, where each will have the opportunity to address the charges.

“We express our thanks to the East Haddam Resident Trooper’s Office and the Putnam Police Department for their collaboration, and to the Governor’s Prevention Partnership for its ongoing support,” Rubenstein said.

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