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 30th, 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.”
I was surprised to see Grapes on this list.
And Trffy’s friends from Fountainhead (you know Fat Cat?).
What a complete waste of police manpower. Any way to find out if this cost the City overtime?
John is right. Why waste time paying our law enforcement folks to enforce the laws. Let’s just allow our kids to buy alcohol from any store, at any time, with no enforcement of age rules. That way we can leave our crack law enforcement folks to clean up the drug problems, write traffic tickets, solve our murders, give tickets to store owners and home owners who don’t shovel snow or remove garbage from their properties, crack down on folks who talk on the phone while driving, and so many other jobs which they have done so well in the recent past. Let those kids drink, because it should keep them from doing anything illegal, like driving while intoxicated. I wonder which of those places john owns, or was he lucky enough to not get caught.
I’m curious to know what John thinks the police should have been doing, if not enforcing the drinking age laws? Isn’t that part of a cop’s job, to enforce the existing laws whatever they may be?
Notice that no one was arrested, and that they face administrative action from the State Liquor Commission. The Liquor Commission can do these types of inspections without a police presence, since the Police did not arrest anyone nor write tickets. Could they have been out fighting drug dealers instead of standing next to Liquor Commissioners doing their job. I will bet these were overtime assignments where the taxpayers paid the cops to do nothing.
John:
In order for the liquor control agents to conduct compliance checks with minors, the presence of law enforcement officers is required by state statute. If not for the presence of law enforcement officers, in this instance Norwalk police officers, it would be unlawful for the minors to possess the alcoholic liquor which they purchase. After the purchase is made, the alcoholic liquor is turned over to the agent and is held as evidence. The role of the police officers is critical for the proper conducting of such compliance checks. I hope this helps to clarify this apparent misunderstanding. To learn more about the Liquor Control Division and the Liquor Control Commission, I invite you to visit our website at http://www.ct.gov/dcp .
John Suchy-Division Director of Liquor Control
This isn’t the first time minors have volunteered to work with the NPD. They’ve done these type of “stings” many times before. I hardly see what the big deal is. If they are minors, the NPD would have to have permission from their parents for the young people to participate anyway, and if their parents agree with it, then what’s the beef?
I have no problem with the concept. My concern is the cost. Do the fines imposed by the Liquor authority reimburse the cost of police? Are these officers pulled away from their regular duties? Is this an overtime cost to the city?