On Friday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2022, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol Enforcement Unit conducted a series of covert compliance checks at local businesses, using an underage individual. The underage individual entered the businesses without identification and attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages.
During this covert compliance check operation, the Alcohol Enforcement Unit visited 16 businesses in St. Mary’s County. Fourteen of the stores were compliant, requiring identification from the underage individual and did not complete the sale. Two of the businesses were negligent in their responsibilities, did not ask for identification and sold alcoholic beverages to the underage person.
The non-compliant businesses and clerks who sold the alcoholic beverages to the underage person will receive summons to appear before the St. Mary’s County Alcohol Board for possible sanctions.
The 14 compliant businesses were: Abell’s Tavern in Callaway; Beacon Liquors in Callaway; Canopy Liquors in Lexington Park; St. Mary’s Fine Wine & Spirits in Great Mills; Stop & Shop in Lexington Park; County Liquors in Lexington Park; International Beverage in Lexington Park; Bob’s Sunoco in Callaway; Wildewood Fine Wine and Spirits in California; Marketplace Wine & Spirits in California; California Wine & Spirits in California; Jughead Liquors in California; ABC Liquors in California and 2000 Liquors in Lexington Park.
The two non-compliant businesses were Cook’s Liquors & Deli in Park Hall and PAX Fine Wine & Spirits in California.
