The Jefferson City Liquor Control Board on Monday issued one- and two-day alcohol license suspensions for two businesses that sold alcohol to a minor in April.
The board approved a one-day alcohol license suspension for July 12 at We Be Smokin & Drinkin, located at 2215 Missouri Blvd., and a two-day alcohol license suspension for July 11-12 at Break Time, located at 627 Clark Ave.
The Jefferson City Police Department, Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, and the Council for Drug Free Youth conducted alcohol compliance checks in April at various local businesses. Officers had an 18-year-old woman attempt to purchase alcohol at the businesses.
On April 12, employees at We B Smokin & Drinkin and Break Time, operated by MFA Oil Company, sold alcohol to the 18-year-old minor.
The cashier at We B Smokin & Drinkin checked the minor's valid I.D. and proceeded to sell her the alcohol, associate City Counselor Bryan Wolford said.
When officers later confronted the clerk about the sale, Wolford added, the cashier said "he must have looked at the I.D. card wrong and did admit to making the sale."
The business did not have prior alcohol violations on record with the city, board members said.
"(For a) first-time offense, I think it would be appropriate with the one-day (suspension)," said Jefferson City Finance Director Margie Mueller, who is also a Liquor Control Board member.
The owner and manager of We B Smokin & Drinkin were unavailable for comment.
At Break Time, the cashier did not ask for the minor's identification before making the sale. The cashier admitted to police he sold the alcohol to the minor because he was tired and wanted to keep the check-out line moving, Wolford said.
The board gave Break Time a two-day alcohol license suspension since this was not their first alcohol license violation, board members said. There were previous violations in 2005, 2009 and 2015, they added.
"Even though the last prior was four years ago, there's (a) record of repeat offenders," Mueller said.
MFA Oil Company did not return the News Tribune's request for comment.
The businesses have 10 days to respond or appeal the board's ruling, Mueller said.
The employees at those businesses were cited under Jefferson City's ordinance governing alcohol sales to minors.
"We take action against the person holding the liquor license, so the business basically, not the individual sales clerk. That is dealt with separately in municipal court," Wolford said.
In a separate alcohol compliance check in April, Alcobacco, at 1904 Missouri Blvd., and Bee Line Snack Shop, at 1100 Missouri Blvd., sold alcohol to a minor, according to an April JCPD news release.
Wolford said he was unsure if and when the board would discuss the alcohol violations at Alcobacco and Bee Line Snack Shop.