Store tightens I.D. policy after citation

Pharmacy among 25 ticketed during sting

Rochelle Williams
Diversity Institute Fellow

04.01.04

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A Goodlettsville Eckerd has changed it policy of only carding beer consumers who appear to be 30 or younger after receiving a citation from Metro Police for selling alcohol to a person under 21.

The Eckerd at 116 South Main St. was one of 25 stores recently cited by the Metro Police Youth Service Division for illegal sale of alcohol.

Melanie Houston, Eckerd store manager, would not comment on the specifics of the case but said the incident compelled management to tighten the store's identification policy.

"We are carding everybody," Houston said, "regardless of appearance."

From March 15-19, Metro Police detectives conducted compliance checks by accompanying underage consumers to 100 local stores to determine which stores sell alcohol to minors, Metro Police spokesman Dan Aaron said.

Each employee who completed an illegal transaction received a misdemeanor citation; each store will be reported to the Metropolitan Beer Permit Board, the county agency that distributes alcohol and beer permits.

"The clerk is the person being charged with a criminal violation," Aaron said. "The fact that the clerk is working for a particular store is given to the beer board to decide, and that is a civil matter."

Representatives of the 25 stores must appear before the Beer Permit Board on April 8, said Pat Craddock, the board's executive director.

Craddock said most stores that sell alcohol to underage consumers receive the maximum fine of $1,500.

The Youth Service Division, which is composed of six detectives, will continue conducting compliance checks throughout the summer.

Employees at the following 25 stores illegally sold beer to people under 21.

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

March 19

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