Beer permit revoked after two violations

Now it’s two strikes and you’re out when it comes to selling beer to minors as county officials say all repeat offenders will be put out of the beer-selling business in Warren County.

‘The state law says the second time you get caught selling beer to minors you’re out,’ said Warren County Beer Board chairman David Grissom as the panel approved two beer permit transfers Thursday. ‘It follows the permit so two violations on the permit and the county’s hands are tied. It’s a state law.’

Board member Teddy Boyd told applicants for beer permit transfers for Jacksboro Discount Tobacco and Deli, and One Stop Market (formerly Hillis Market in Centertown) that he wanted to be clear that even accidentally selling to minors would bring swift consequences. Boyd added that it is the owner’s responsibility to make sure their employees confirm the legal age of anyone buying beer.

‘Your employees can get your license pulled,’ Boyd warned.

Fellow board member Les Trotman said the board has a history of going hard on those who violate the law, noting law enforcement conducts undercover beer buying operations on a regular basis to ensure businesses are in compliance.

‘We don’t look favorably on anyone who is selling beer to our kids,’ Trotman said, reminding the business owners the new state law requires anyone who asks to buy beer to be required to provide identification, no matter how old they look. ‘Everybody means everybody.’

Grissom pointed out the state law governing the sale of alcohol is uniform statewide, although the county has a slightly stricter requirement which will not allow beer sales within 2,000 feet of a church, school or public gathering place. Businesses with permits pre-dating the requirement are grandfathered in and allowed to continue beer sales at their locations.

However, as long as applicants meet the distance requirement, do not have a felony record or a history of selling beer to minors, beer licenses are relatively simple to obtain under state law. Keeping them, Trotman pointed out, takes vigilance and employee training.