Two Nabbed in Alcohol Compliancy Check

-From the Benicia Police Department-

On December 5, 2012, members of the Benicia Police Department's Investigations Unit and Agents from the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control conducted minor decoy alcoholic beverage stings at various locations throughout Benicia. A 17-year-old male minor decoy was utilized during this operation and attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages from local businesses in Benicia. 

Both Off-Sale (Purchase for off premises consumption) and On-Sale (Purchase for on premises consumption) businesses were targeted in the operation.  The Benicia Police Department conducts alcoholic beverage and tobacco compliancy checks two to five times a year. Funding for the compliancy checks is provided by Solano County Reducing Rates Coalition.

The minor decoy entered 20 establishments that sell alcoholic beverages.  Employees at 18 of the businesses requested identification from the minor decoy and after determining the decoys age, they refused to sell or furnish the alcoholic beverage. 

“The Benicia Police Department's goal is to eventually reach total compliance,” said Lt. Frank Hartig.

An employee at Little Thai Bistro located at 870 Southampton Road and Buon Appetito restaurant located at 191 Military East did not ask the minor decoy for identification.  Employees at these two businesses furnished the minor decoy with an alcoholic beverage. 

Little Thai Bistro employee,  Waranya Lagle and a Buon Apetito employee (a 16-year-old minor) were issued citations for furnishing an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of twenty-one.  Both were released at the scene.  “We are extremely pleased with the businesses that followed the law and asked for identification and did not sell to the minor decoy,” Hartig.

Agents from the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control will be processing the case involving Buon Apetito.  The 16-year-old minor employee is currently on court probation for a DUI involving a traffic collision from earlier this year. 

“The goal of the program is zero sales, zero citations, and alcohol free and healthier youth.  Total compliance with alcohol and tobacco sales laws is the department's mission,” said Hartig.

The following eighteen businesses were contacted and did not sell alcoholic beverages to the minor decoy.  

1.     Rose Market                                 2064 COLUMBUS PKWY

2.     CVS                                                  2100 COLUMBUS PKWY

3.     Raley's                                            890 SOUTHAMPTON RD

4.     Superstop                                                 816 SOUTHAMPTON RD

5.     Bob's Food and Liquor                         510 WEST J ST

6.     Chevron Gas                                 10 SOLANO SQ

7.     Safeway                                         50 SOLANO SQ

8.     Rite Aide                          60 SOLANO SQ

9.     Valero Gas                                     1925 EAST 2ND ST

10. Texaco Gas                                    6001 GOODYEAR RD

11. Food & Liquor East                   1502 EAST 5TH ST

12. Liquor Warehouse                   457 MILITARY EAST

13. 7 Eleven                               500 MILITARY EAST

14. Szechwan House Restaurant             500 1st St Ste A,

15. Kaigon Sushi                             560 1st St Ste A 103

16. The Loft Wine Bar                     280 1st Street

17. Rookies Sports Bar                    321 1st Street

18. Mai Thai Cuisine                        807 1st street

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.