Local businesses pass undercover compliance checks, turn away underage state agent trying to buy booze

An underage Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco investigative aide tried to buy alcohol at 16 businesses in Flagler County, but none would sell.


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  • | 7:00 a.m. July 7, 2022
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by: City of Flagler Beach

Jacksonville’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco fielded an underage undercover investigative aide to try to purchase alcohol in Flagler County stores and restaurants on July 1, to see if local businesses would illegally sell alcohol to someone who is underage.

None of the businesses sold alcohol to the underage undercover aide, and no arrests were made.

The effort was designed to combat underage drinking for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The request for the compliance checks was made by the Flagler Beach Police Department and supported by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Bunnell Police Department.

Here’s a list of the businesses checked: 

  • Shell, 700 South Oceanshore Boulevard, Flagler Beach
  • 7-Eleven, 408 South Oceanshore Boulevard, Flagler Beach
  • Jiffy Store, 116 Moody Boulevard, Flagler Beach
  • Publix No. 1257, 414 Beach Village Drive, Flagler Beach
  • Publix Liquors, 416 Beach Village Drive, Flagler Beach
  • Tony’s Pizza, 428 Beach Village Drive, Flagler Beach
  • 7-Eleven No. 37765A, 2560 SR 100, Flagler Beach
  • Tobacco Outlet No. 2, 2557 SR 100, Flagler Beach
  • Racetrac, 6100 SR 100, Palm Coast
  • Sharp’s Discount Liquors, 103 Flagler Plaza Drive, Palm Coast
  • Winn-Dixie, 111 Flagler Plaza Drive, Palm Coast
  • Mobil, 6020 SR 100, Flagler Beach
  • Circle K, 6125 SR 100, Flagler Beach
  • Circle K, 500 East Moody Boulevard., Bunnell
  • Quick King No. 4, 100 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell
  • Sunoco, 703 U.S. No. 1, Bunnell

It is a second degree misdemeanor under Florida State Statute 562.11 (1)(a) to sell, give, serve, or permit to be served alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years. It is also a second degree misdemeanor under Florida State Statute 569.101 (1) to sell, deliver, barter, furnish, or give, directly or indirectly, to any person who is under 21 years of age, any tobacco product.  

“This countywide initiative to combat underage drinking, on an extremely busy holiday weekend, is another example of all law enforcement agencies in Flagler County working together to keep our community safe," Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney said. "We sincerely appreciate the expertise and assistance provided by our partners with State Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and we look forward to working with them again in the future."

Doughney added, “We’d like to thank each of the businesses checked during this operation for doing their due diligence by asking and checking identification, and not selling alcoholic beverages to minors.”

 

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