ROBERTA NEE ADAMSStaff Writer

This past July 2, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office sent out an underage female operative to attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages at all ten establishments in Moore County with beer licenses. The operative was able to purchase beverages at six of the ten businesses. Those violations were the subject of the August meeting of Moore County’s Beer Board.

Deputy Brandon Thomas explained that the female used her own ID, not a fake ID. Her ID showed her twenty first birthday to be in July, but approximately two weeks after the operation. She was not of age to buy alcoholic beverages at the time of the operation.

Deputy Thomas pointed out that the four business that refused service all had scanners, and were therefore alerted to her underage status. None of the six that sold her beverages had scanners, though all asked for her ID. Asked whether the Sherriff’s office had proof of the underage sales, Thomas responded that all of the attempted purchases were videotaped.

The six violators had a choice of consequence. They could either pay a $1,500 fine, or they could stop sales of alcoholic beverages for two weeks. Lynchburg Market, Lynchburg Hardware Store, BBQ Caboose Café, and Canterero Mexican Grill all chose to pay the fine. Short Creek RV Resort and Sweet Southern Spirits both chose the two week ban on sales of alcoholic beverages.

The individual waiters and clerks who allegedly sold the alcohol have been cited into court and will appear in Moore County General Sessions Court Aug. 19.