County looks to revoke beer license for 90 days
The Warren County Commission will examine evidence against Country Club Market Monday evening in considering whether to impose a 90-day license suspension for illegal beer sales to minors.
“It irks me when places are selling beer to minors without even asking for an identification,” said County Mayor Kenneth Rogers. “We’re going to be pushing for the maximum 90-day suspension. We have to get across to people that selling alcohol to minors is wrong.”
County Club Market on Manchester Highway was one of eight Warren County stores caught selling beer to a 19-year-old undercover operative during a beer-buying sting earlier this year. The market was the only store outside the city limits caught, with the remaining seven located within McMinnville.
The city beer board will meet at a later date to determine punishment for the city stores. Police Chief Joe Melton said he will push for maximum suspensions for some of the stores.
Johnny Saffle of County Club Market has already entered a plea to misdemeanor beer sales to a minor charges in General Sessions Court and was fined $750 plus court costs.
The action to be voted on by the entire county commission Monday will be what punishment the store itself will face. Penalties can generally range from fines to suspensions and on up to permanent revocation of alcohol license. A 90-day beer license revocation for an average store will generally cost the retailer thousands.