State Liquor Commission Conducts Sting in Norwalk & Stamford

From a press release:

27 of 99 Stores Checked for Liquor Compliance in Norwalk and Stamford are Cited for Underage Sales

“Nutcrackers” not found in Lower Fairfield County

HARTFORD, February 10 – Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. released today the results of a large-scale undercover compliance operation held last weekend, involving compliance with Connecticut’s state liquor laws, specifically the sale of alcohol to those under the legal age.

On Saturday, January 30^th, Stamford Police officers, Norwalk Police officers, and Liquor Control Agents conducted alcohol compliance tests of package stores and grocery stores that are licensed to sell beer in Norwalk and grocery stores that are licensed to sell beer in Stamford.

The Governor’s Prevention Partnership provided five (5) youths for this series of compliance checks.  Two 15-year old youths were used in Stamford, while a 17 year old, an 18-year old, and a 19-year old youth were used in the Norwalk compliance checks.

In Norwalk, Special Services Division officers from the Norwalk Police Department partnered with liquor control agents to test for compliance 55 package stores and grocery stores that sell beer. Ten stores failed by selling to the volunteer youth.  Stores that allegedly failed by selling to the youth may now face administrative action before the Liquor Control Commission. They are:

• Alexa Grocery, 133 South Main Street
• Crespo Groceries, 160 South Main Street
• Cocchia’s Package Store, 23 Ely Avenue
• Raimy Market, 251 Ely Avenue
• El Mercadito Grocery, 33 Bouton Street
• Caribbean Grocery, 161 West Cedar Street
• Fountainhead, 67 Winfield Street
• City Supermarket, 717 West Avenue
• Grapes, 10 Cross Street
• Mel’s Discount Liquor Store, 180 Main Street
• World of Beverage, 295 Main Avenue

Stamford Police Narcotics and Organized Crime unit officers worked with State liquor control agents to test for compliance 44 licensed grocery stores that sell beer. Seventeen of these failed by selling to one of the volunteer youths. Those stores that allegedly failed and may face administrative action before the Liquor Control Commission are:

•         Las Americas Market at 958 E. Main St.

•         Emilias Italian Deli at 675 Cove Road

•         Moran Deli at 655 Pacific St.

•         La Fabulosa at 698 Pacific St.

•         Cove Market at 596 Cove Road

•         La Marqueta Meat & Produce at 54 Myrtle Ave.

•         J&J Grocery & Deli  at 229 Henry St.

•         Pulaski Market at 880 E. Main St.

•         Stamford Mini Mart at 740 Atlantic St.

•         El Paso Market at 169 Cove Road

•         Downtown Mini Mart at 895 Washington Blvd.

•         La Marquette Meat and Produce at 432 W. Main St.

•         Quick Plus Variety at 502 W. Main St.

•         L&G at 425 West Main St.

•         En-Bas-Marche-En-Bas at 335 W. Main St.

•         Adams Grocery at 20 Adams Ave.

•         Main Street Convenience at 199 Main St.

During these operations in Norwalk and Stamford, all stores were checked for the presence of “nutcrackers” and/or “nemos” – sweet alcohol-laced punch drinks that are reported as being sold in some New York City bodegas (New York Daily News, “Bodegas Dealing Sweet Liquor Punch to City Teens,” January 3, 2010).

On January 5, 2010, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection sent an advisory to many Connecticut police departments adjacent to New York, including the Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk and Bridgeport Police Departments indicating that these products were not to be sold.

None of the grocery stores that were tested on the weekend sold or offered to sell any of these illegal products to the volunteer youths.

“I am pleased to see that these products – nutcrackers and nemos – are not making their way into the Connecticut marketplace,” Commissioner Farrell said. “While that is good news, the large number of retailers who are selling alcohol to underage people is bad news. We will continue to work with local police departments, retailers, and community activists and educators to get the message out that underage sales are illegal sales and will be treated accordingly.”