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Six Tahoe businesses cited for selling alcohol to minors

Jason Shueh
Sierra Sun

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and#8212; Six local businesses were cited recently after employees sold alcohol to minors, according to the Placer County Sheriffand#8217;s Office.

The sheriffand#8217;s office targeted 15 local businesses during the sting operation, officials said. Businesses cited included Tahoe City Shell, Tahoe City Chevron, Lake View Wine and Spirits in Tahoe City, Lanzaand#8217;s Restaurant in Tahoe Vista and Sandyand#8217;s Pub and The Slot Club, both in Olympic Valley.

Four of the six businesses were not immediately available for comment Thursday.



Justin Garcia, general manager at Lanzaand#8217;s, said though he was not present at the time, the sting was conducted hastily and improperly according to the information he was given about the incident.

According to accounts of employees, Garcia said a young female entered the restaurantand#8217;s bar and ordered alcohol. The bartender, upon presenting the drink, began to ask for identification when law enforcement stepped in to issue the citation.



and#8220;In my opinion, it wasnand#8217;t by the book,and#8221; Garcia said, adding that if the bartender was allowed to finish asking for ID, the female would have never been served the drink.

Mike Fabol, manager at Tahoe City Shell, said the employee responsible is no longer with the business as consequence for the citation.

and#8220;For some reason the guy who did it said he was tired and didnand#8217;t look at the ID good enough, and thatand#8217;s why heand#8217;s longer here,and#8221; Fabol said.

The sting was conducted thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which aims to and#8220;assist in providing awareness and training in alcohol-related crimes and their impact on schools, parents and students countywide,and#8221; according to a Placer County press release.

and#8220;The Sheriffand#8217;s Office will aggressively continue these types of enforcement projects in the future,and#8221; said Sheriff Ed Bonner in a statement.

According to the sheriffand#8217;s office, anyone who sells or furnishes alcohol to a minor faces a fine of $250 and up to 24 hours of community service. If it is a business, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control can take administrative action on the businessand#8217; alcoholic beverage license, impose a fine or both.


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